MFSORT on variable length files

Problem:

The following question was received from a customer:

On the mainframe, we add 4 bytes to the sorting position for variable length sequential files.  It looks like we should NOT do this when we are sorting Microfocus variable length sequential files.  Can you confirm that this is the case?

Resolution:

Yes, this is the case. The file characteristics are deduced from the file itself for variable length and indexed files, so there is no need to add the 4 extra bytes.