The DATASETS Procedure

MODIFY Statement

Changes the attributes of SAS files and, through the use of subordinate statements, the attributes of variables in those SAS files.

Featured in: Modifying SAS Data Sets

MODIFY SAS-file <(file-option(s))>
</ <GENNUM=integer>
<MEMTYPE=mtype>>;

To do this Use this option

Restrict processing to a certain type of SAS file MEMTYPE=

Specify attributes

Assign or change a data set label LABEL=

Assign or change a special data set type TYPE=

Specify how the data are currently sorted SORTEDBY=

Modify passwords

Modify an alter password ALTER=

Modify a read, write, or alter password PW=

Modify a read password READ=

Modify a write password WRITE=

Modify generation groups

Modify the maximum number of generations for a generation group GENMAX=

Modify a historical version GENNUM=

To do this	Use this option
Restrict processing to a certain type of SAS file	MEMTYPE=
Specify attributes
	Assign or change a data set label	LABEL=
	Assign or change a special data set type	TYPE=
	Specify how the data are currently sorted	SORTEDBY=
Modify passwords
	Modify an alter password	ALTER=
	Modify a read, write, or alter password	PW=
	Modify a read password	READ=
	Modify a write password	WRITE=
Modify generation groups
	Modify the maximum number of generations for a generation group	GENMAX=
	Modify a historical version	GENNUM=

Required Arguments

SAS-file: specifies a SAS file in the procedure input library.

Options

ALTER=password-modification

assigns, changes, or removes an alter password for the SAS file named in the MODIFY statement. password-modification is one of the following:

new-password
old-password / new-password
/ new-password
old-password /
/

See also:

Manipulating Passwords

GENMAX=integer

sets the maximum number of files in a generation group.

Range:	0 to 999
Default:	0

GENNUM=integer

restricts processing to the specified generation file. Valid values for GENNUM= are

postive integer: refers to an explicit generation file.
negative integer: refers to a relative generation file.

LABEL='data-set-label' | ' '

assigns, changes, or removes a data set label for the SAS data set named in the MODIFY statement. If a single quote appears in the label, write it as two single quotes. LABEL= or LABEL=' ' removes the current label.

Range:	1-40 characters
Featured in:	Modifying SAS Data Sets

MEMTYPE=mtype

restricts processing to one member type (mtype).

Aliases:	MTYPE= and MT=
Default:	If you do not specify the MEMTYPE= option in the PROC DATASETS statement or in the MODIFY statement, the default is MEMTYPE=DATAVIEW.
See also:	Restricting Member Types Available for Processing

PW=password-modification

assigns, changes, or removes a read, write, or alter password for the SAS file named in the MODIFY statement. password-modification is one of the following:

new-password
old-password / new-password
/ new-password
old-password /
/

See also:

Manipulating Passwords

READ=password-modification

assigns, changes, or removes a read password for the SAS file named in the MODIFY statement. password-modification is one of the following:

new-password
old-password / new-password
/ new-password
old-password /
/

See also:	Manipulating Passwords
Featured in:	Modifying SAS Data Sets

SORTEDBY=sort-information

specifies how the data are currently sorted. SAS stores the sort information with the file but does not verify that the data are sorted the way you indicate.

sort-information can be one of the following:

by-clause </ collate-name>: indicates how the data are currently sorted. Values for by-clause are the variables and options you can use in a BY statement in a PROC SORT step. collate-name names the collating sequence used for the sort. By default, the collating sequence is that of your host operating environment.
_NULL_: removes any existing sort information.

Featured in:

Modifying SAS Data Sets

TYPE=special-type

assigns or changes the special data set type of a SAS data set.

SAS does not verify

the SAS data set type you specify in the TYPE= option (except to check if it has a length of eight or fewer characters).
that the SAS data set's structure is appropriate for the type you have designated.

Note: Do not confuse the TYPE= option with the MEMTYPE= option. The TYPE= option specifies a type of special SAS data set. The MEMTYPE= option specifies one or more types of SAS files in a SAS data library. [cautionend]

Tip: Most SAS data sets have no special type. However, certain SAS procedures, like the CORR procedure, can create a number of special SAS data sets. In addition, SAS/STAT software and SAS/EIS software support special data set types.

WRITE=password-modification

assigns, changes, or removes a write password for the SAS file named in the MODIFY statement. password-modification is one of the following:

new-password
old-password / new-password
/ new-password
old-password /
/

See also:

Manipulating Passwords

Manipulating Passwords
In order to assign, change, or remove a password, you must specify the password for the highest level of protection that currently exists on that file.

Assigning Passwords

/* assign a password to an unprotected
   file */
modify colors (pw=green);

/* assigns an alter password to an already
   read-protected SAS data set */
 modify colors (read=green alter=red);

Changing Passwords

/* changes the write password from
   YELLOW to BROWN */
modify cars (write=yellow/brown);

/* use alter access to change the unknown
   read password to BLUE */
modify colors (read=/blue alter=red);

Removing Passwords

/* removes the alter password RED from
   STATES */
modify states (alter=red/);

/* Use alter access to remove the read
   password */
modify zoology (read=green/ alter=red);

/* Use PW= as an alias for either WRITE=
   or ALTER= to remove the unknown read
   password */
modify biology (read=/ pw=red);

Working with Generation Groups

Changing the Number of Generations

/* change the number of generations on A to 99 */
modify A(genmax=99);

Removing Passwords

/* removes the alter password RED from
   STATES(GENNUM=2) */
modify states (alter=red/) / gennum=2;

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