The SORT statement handles both files and tables.

1  –  1format_file

  The SORT statement creates a sort file by executing input procedures or
  transferring records from an input file.  It sorts the records in the
  sort file using one or more keys that you specify.  Finally, it returns
  each record from the sort file, in sorted order, to output procedures
  or an output file.

  Format -

   SORT sortfile { ON { ASCENDING  } KEY { sortkey } ... } ...
                 {    { DESCENDING }                     }

      [ WITH DUPLICATES IN ORDER ]

      [ COLLATING SEQUENCE IS alpha ]

      { INPUT PROCEDURE IS first-proc [ { THRU    } end-proc ] }
      {                               [ { THROUGH }          ] }
      { USING { infile } ...                                   }

      { OUTPUT PROCEDURE IS first-proc [ { THRU    } end-proc ] }
      {                                [ { THROUGH }          ] }
      { GIVING { outfile } ...                                  }

1.1  –  sortfile

  is a file-name described in a sort-merge file description (SD) entry in
  the Data Division.

1.2  –  sortkey

  is the data-name of a data item in a record associated with sortfile.

1.3  –  alpha

  is an alphabet-name defined in the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph of the
  Environment Division.

1.4  –  first-proc

  is the section-name or paragraph-name of the first (or only) section or
  paragraph of the INPUT or OUTPUT procedure range.

1.5  –  infile

  is the file-name of the input file. It must be described in a file
  description (FD) entry in the Data Division.

1.6  –  end-proc

  is the section-name or paragraph-name of the last section or paragraph
  of the INPUT or OUTPUT procedure range.

1.7  –  outfile

  is the file-name of the output file. It must be described in a file
  description (FD) entry in the Data Division.

2  –  2format_table

  The SORT statement orders a table.  It sorts the table elements
  based on the keys as specified in the OCCURS for the table.  The
  table keys as specified in the OCCURS can be overridden with keys
  as specified in the SORT statement.  If no key is specified, the
  table elements are the SORT keys.

  Format -

   SORT table-name [ ON { ASCENDING  } KEY { sortkey } ... ] ...
                   [    { DESCENDING }                     ]

      [ WITH DUPLICATES IN ORDER ]

      [ COLLATING SEQUENCE IS alpha ].

2.1  –  table-name

  is a table described with OCCURS in the Data Division.

2.2  –  sortkey

  is the data-name of a data item in the table-name table.

2.3  –  alpha

  is an alphabet-name defined in the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph of the
  Environment Division.