SORT table or array using COBOL SORT statement

COBOL SORT statement can also be used for sorting tables (arrays). It sorts table elements according to specified table keys.

Below is a sample program to sort a table
 
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.                                  
01 WS-FILLER.                                             
    05 WS-TBL  OCCURS 10  TIMES.                          
        10 WS-USE-CNT     PIC 9(4)   COMP.                
01 WS-I                   PIC 9(4)   COMP.                
PROCEDURE DIVISION.                                       
   MOVE 112  TO WS-USE-CNT (1)                            
   MOVE 13   TO WS-USE-CNT (2)                            
   MOVE 55   TO WS-USE-CNT (3)                            
   MOVE 15   TO WS-USE-CNT (4)                             
   MOVE 16   TO WS-USE-CNT (5)                            
   MOVE 3    TO WS-USE-CNT (6)                            
   MOVE 43   TO WS-USE-CNT (7)                            
   MOVE 78   TO WS-USE-CNT (8)                             
   MOVE 34   TO WS-USE-CNT (9)                            
   MOVE 46   TO WS-USE-CNT (10)                           
   SORT WS-TBL ASCENDING WS-USE-CNT                       
   PERFORM VARYING WS-I FROM 1 BY 1 UNTIL WS-I > 10       
      DISPLAY WS-USE-CNT (WS-I)                           
   END-PERFORM                                            
   GOBACK.
 
Output of the above code is
 
0003
0013
0015
0016
0034
0043
0046
0055
0078
0112
 
Another example is given below
 
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 GROUP-ITEM.
05 TABL OCCURS 10 TIMES
10 ELEM-ITEM1 PIC X.
10 ELEM-ITEM2 PIC X.
10 ELEM-ITEM3 PIC X.
...
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
...
SORT TABL DESCENDING ELEM-ITEM2 ELEM-ITEM3.