Partitioning and sorting logical units of data prior to reaching an end of the data file

摘要

A data partitioning technique for use in sorting data records of a data file. A plurality of data records is retrieved from the file until a trigger condition is satisfied. For example, data is retrieved until a trigger field within the plurality of data records changes from one value to another value, or until a comparison of the trigger field, using a conditional operator, to a predetermined value is satisfied, or until the trigger field changes from one value to another value after a predetermined number of data records is retrieved. After the trigger condition is satisfied, one or more of the retrieved data records are sorted. The sorted records are then available for output prior to reaching the end of the file.