VMS Help SORT, /DUPLICATES  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    By default, Sort retains multiple records with duplicate keys.
    The /NODUPLICATES qualifier eliminates all but one of multiple
    records with duplicate keys.

    Formats

      /DUPLICATES

      /NODUPLICATES

1 - Full Description

    By default, Sort/Merge retains records with equal keys. The
    /NODUPLICATES qualifier eliminates all but one record with equal
    keys. The retained records may not appear in the same order as
    they appeared in the input file. If you want to specify which
    duplicate record to keep, invoke Sort at the program level and
    specify an equal-key routine.

    The /STABLE and the /NODUPLICATES qualifiers are mutually
    exclusive.

2 - Example

  $ SORT/KEY=(POSITION:3,SIZE:5,DECIMAL)/NODUPLICATES -
  _$ ACCT1,ACCT2 ACCT.LIS

      This SORT command arranges the two input files according to
      the key supplied and eliminates all but one of multiple records
      with equal keys.