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Merging Files Using a Single Key

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To combine the two files EMPLOYEE and NEWHIRES using a single key data item to create a new merged file named COMPANY, enter the following commands: 

  :MERGE
  
  HP32214A.01.00  MERGE/3000 WED, JUN  3, 1987, 11:55 AM
  (C) HEWLETT-PACKARD CO. 1986
  
  >INPUT EMPLOYEE, NEWHIRES
  >OUTPUT COMPANY
  >KEY 1, 11
  >END
The two input files (EMPLOYEE and NEWHIRES) and the resulting output file (COMPANY) are shown below. These files are merged according to last name, as indicated by the command >KEY 1, 11. Since no other specification was made, the merge is done alphabetically using the default ascending alphabetical order. Notice that the entries for ADAMS, CARLSON, CLARK, and MATHEWS are merged into a single list with the other employees in the file COMPANY.

The existing file EMPLOYEE contains the following data: 

                     1         2         3         4
            123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345

     1      ANDERSON   CHARLES    PRESIDENT          0247
     2      ANDERSON   CHARLES    SALES REP          3456
     3      ANDERSON   MARY       ACCOUNTANT         6345
     4      CARLSON    ROBERTA    TREASURER          3586
     5      FISHER     TOM        SHIPPING CLERK     7309
     6      JOHNSON    FRANCES    RECEPTIONIST       7943
     7      LANGE      ROBERT     ENGINEER           3235
     8      SMITH      HOWARD     DESIGNER           6794
     9      TAYLOR     HEATHER    SECRETARY          7272
    10      ZIMMER     ANDREW     ENGINEER           5739
The newly created and sorted file NEWHIRES contains the following data: 

                     1         2         3         4
            123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345

     1      ADAMS      JERROLD    INSPECTOR          8044
     2      CARLSON    PETER      BUYER              8043
     3      CLARK      STEVE      ASSEMBLER          8046
     4      MATHEWS    EDDY       PLANNER            8045
The file COMPANY, created as a result of merging the files NEWHIRES and EMPLOYEE, contains the following data: 
                     1         2         3         4
            123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345

     1      ADAMS      JERROLD    INSPECTOR          8044
     2      ANDERSON   CHARLES    PRESIDENT          0247
     3      ANDERSON   CHARLES    SALES REP          3456
     4      ANDERSON   MARY       ACCOUNTANT         6345
     5      CARLSON    ROBERTA    TREASURER          3586
     6      CARLSON    PETER      BUYER              8043
     7      CLARK      STEVE      ASSEMBLER          8046
     8      FISHER     TOM        SHIPPING CLERK     7309
     9      JOHNSON    FRANCES    RECEPTIONIST       7943
    10      LANGE      ROBERT     ENGINEER           3235
    11      MATHEWS    EDDY       PLANNER            8045
    12      SMITH      HOWARD     DESIGNER           6794
    13      TAYLOR     HEATHER    SECRETARY          7272
    14      ZIMMER     ANDREW     ENGINEER           5739
Note that the two CARLSON entries are not listed alphabetically according to their first names. In case of a tie during a single key merge, the names are listed in the order in which the system receives them. Since ROBERTA CARLSON appeared in the file EMPLOYEE, which was the first file designated with the >INPUT command, that entry is listed first in the merged file. Doing a multiple key merge, as shown below, would arrange these entries in the proper order.



Exiting MERGE/XL

Merging Files Using Multiple Keys