Moving and Accessing SAS Files across Operating Environments

Using Filename Extensions to Determine Which SAS Engine and Host Were Used to Create a SAS File

These Version 6 and Version 7 and later hosts use filename extensions to reflect the SAS engine and the SAS member that is created:

OS/2
OpenVMS
OS/390 (Version 7 and later UNIX System Services Directory)
UNIX
Windows

SAS Filename Extension by Host Type and SAS Release lists SAS filename extensions for members by host and version.

SAS Filename Extension by Host Type and SAS Release
Member SAS Filename Extensions

Version 6 Version 8

UNIX OpenVMS OS/2 and Windows UNIX, OpenVMS, OS/2, OS/390¹, and Windows OS/2 and Windows (Short Names)²

.SAS .sas .SAS .sas .sas .sas

PROGRAM
(DATA step)
.sspnn³ .SASEB$PROGRAM .ss2 sas7bpgm .ss7

DATA .ssdnn³ .SASEB$DATA .sd2 .sas7bdat .sd7

INDEX .snxnn³ .SASEB$INDEX .si2 .sas7bndx .si7

CATALOG .sctnn³ .SASEB$CATALOG .sc2 .sas7bcat .sc7

FDB .sfdnn .SASEB$FDB .sf2 .sas7sfdb .sf7

MDDB .ssmnn .SASEB$MDDB .sm2 .sas7bmdb .sm7

DMDB .snmnn n/a n/a .sas7bdmd .s7m

PROC SQL view .snvnn SASEB$VIEW .sv2 .sas7bvew .sv7

Item store n/a n/a n/a .sas7bitm n/a

***SAS Filename Extension by Host Type and SAS Release***
Member	SAS Filename Extensions
Version 6	Version 8
UNIX	OpenVMS	OS/2 and Windows	UNIX, OpenVMS, OS/2, OS/390¹, and Windows	OS/2 and Windows (Short Names)²
.SAS	.sas	.SAS	.sas	.sas	.sas
PROGRAM (DATA step)	.sspnn³	.SASEB$PROGRAM	.ss2	sas7bpgm	.ss7
DATA	.ssdnn³	.SASEB$DATA	.sd2	.sas7bdat	.sd7
INDEX	.snxnn³	.SASEB$INDEX	.si2	.sas7bndx	.si7
CATALOG	.sctnn³	.SASEB$CATALOG	.sc2	.sas7bcat	.sc7
FDB	.sfdnn	.SASEB$FDB	.sf2	.sas7sfdb	.sf7
MDDB	.ssmnn	.SASEB$MDDB	.sm2	.sas7bmdb	.sm7
DMDB	.snmnn	n/a	n/a	.sas7bdmd	.s7m
PROC SQL view	.snvnn	SASEB$VIEW	.sv2	.sas7bvew	.sv7
Item store	n/a	n/a	n/a	.sas7bitm	n/a

nn is an extension that is used to differentiate among UNIX host architectures. To find out the values for nn for UNIX hosts, see UNIX Host Filename Extensions.

¹ refers to Version 7 and later OS/390 UNIX System Services Directory.

² refers to Version 7 and later OS/2 and Windows short filename extensions. For details about conditions under which short filenames are used, see Using Version 8 Short Filename Extensions on FAT-style Disk Drives.

³ with the 01 extension, also applies to Macintosh data sets.

Version 8 and Version 7 filename extensions are identical.

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	¹ refers to Version 7 and later OS/390 UNIX System Services Directory.
	² refers to Version 7 and later OS/2 and Windows short filename extensions. For details about conditions under which short filenames are used, see Using Version 8 Short Filename Extensions on FAT-style Disk Drives.
	³ with the 01 extension, also applies to Macintosh data sets.