sort()
	{
	int i, j, some;
	extern int maxfiles, maxruns[], actruns[];
	extern struct rec LastRec[];

	/*** Initialize input/output files ***/
	OpenRead( 1 );
	for (i=2; i<=maxfiles; i++)	OpenWrite( i );

	/*** Initialize maximum and actual count of runs ***/
	for (i=0; i<=maxfiles; i++)	maxruns[i] = actruns[i] = 0;
	maxruns[0] = maxruns[maxfiles] = 1;
	distribute();

	/*** Initialize merging phase ***/
	for (i=2; i<=maxfiles; i++)
		{ OpenRead( i );  LastRec[i] = ReadFile(i); }
	for (i=1; maxruns[0]>1; i = (i%maxfiles)+1 ) {
		OpenWrite( i );
		while ( maxruns[ (i%maxfiles)+1 ] > 0 ) {
			for (j=1; j<=maxfiles; j++)
				if ( j!=i ) {
					if ( maxruns[j]>actruns[j] )
						FilStat[j] = '-';
					else {	FilStat[j] = 'i';
						actruns[j]--;
						some = TRUE;
						}
					maxruns[j]--;	maxruns[0]--;
					}
			maxruns[i]++;	maxruns[0]++;
			if (some) { merge(i);  actruns[i]++; }
			}
		OpenRead( i );	LastRec[i] = ReadFile(i);
		};
	return( i==1 ? maxfiles : i-1 );
	};