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BUFNO=

Valid in:	configuration file, SAS invocation, OPTIONS statement, Systems Options window
Category:	Files: SAS files
PROC OPTIONS GROUP=	SASFILES

Syntax Description

n | nK | nM | nG

specifies the number of buffers in multiples of 1, 1,000, 1,000,000, and 1,000,000,000, respectively.

MIN

sets the number of buffers to use for the SAS data set to 0, and requires SAS to use a default value.

MAX

sets the number of buffers to use for the SAS data set to the largest signed, 4-byte integer that is representable in your operating environment.

CAUTION:

The recommended maximum setting for this option is 10.   

hex

specifies the number of buffers to use for the SAS data set as a hexadecimal number. This number must be followed by an X.

Details

The number of buffers is not a permanent attribute of the data set, and it is valid only for the current SAS session or job. BUFNO= applies to SAS data sets opened for input, output, or update. If the number of buffers is greater than 0 when a SAS data set is opened, that number is used as the default value for the BUFNO= data set option. If the number of buffers is 0, SAS uses operating environment default values.

Note:   Using BUFNO= can speed up execution time by limiting the number of input/output operations that are required for a particular SAS data set. The improvement in execution time, however, comes at the expense of increased memory consumption.  

Operating Environment Information:   The syntax that is shown here applies to the OPTIONS statement. On the command line or in a configuration file, the syntax is specific to your operating environment. For details, see the SAS documentation for your operating environment.cm  

Comparisons

The BUFNO= system option can be overridden by the BUFNO= data set option.

See Also

	Data Set Option: BUFNO=
	System Option: BUFSIZE=

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Copyright 1999 by SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. All rights reserved.