SAS Companion for UNIX Environments

Summary of SAS Data Set Options

SAS data set options are listed in Summary of SAS Data Set Options. The table gives the name of each option; a brief description; whether the option can be used for a data set opened for input, output, or update; and a list of engines with which the option is valid. All options are described in SAS Language Reference: Dictionary.

Summary of SAS Data Set Options
Option Name Description When Used Engines

ALTER= assigns an alter password to a SAS file. outputupdate V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE

BLKSIZE= specifies the default block size for SAS data libraries inputoutputupdate V8, V7, TAPE, V8TAPE, V7TAPE

BUFNO= specifies the number of buffers for processing a SAS data set. inputoutputupdate V8, V7, V6TAPE, V6TAPE, V7TAPE

BUFSIZE= specifies the buffer size for output SAS data sets. output V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE

CNTLLEV= specifies the level of shared access allowed to the SAS data set. input V8, V7

COMPRESS= compresses observations in an output SAS data set. output V8, V7, V6

DLDMGACTION= specifies which action to take when a SAS catalog in a SAS data library is detected as damaged. inputoutputupdate V8, V7

DROP= excludes variables from processing or from output SAS data sets. inputoutputupdate all

ENCRYPT= encrypts SAS data files output V8, V7, V6

FILECLOSE= specifies how a tape volume is to be positioned when a SAS file on that volume is closed. inputoutput TAPE, V7TAPE

FIRSTOBS= causes processing to begin at a specified observation. input all

GENMAX= requests generations for a data set and specifies the maximum number of versions outputupdate V8, V7

GENNUM= references a specific generation of a data set inputoutputupdate V8, V7

IDXNAME= directs SAS to use a specific index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression input V8, V7

IDXWHERE= overrides SAS System decision whether to use an index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression input V8, V7

IN= creates a variable that indicates whether the data set contributed data to the current observation. inputupdate all

INDEX= defines indexes when creating a data set. output V8, V7, V6

KEEP= specifies variables for processing or writing to output SAS data sets. inputoutputupdate all

LABEL= specifies a label for the data set. inputoutputupdate all

OBS= specifies the last observation of the data set to process. input all

OUTREP= specifies an operating environment's requirements vector for an output file output V8, V7

POINTOBS= controls whether a compressed data set may be processed with random access (by observation number) rather than sequential access only output V8

PW= assigns a read, write, and alter password to a SAS file. outputupdate V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE

PWREQ= controls the pop up of a requestor window for a data set password inputoutputupdate V6

READ= assigns a read password to a SAS file. outputupdate V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE

RENAME= changes the name of a variable. inputoutputupdate all

REPEMPTY= controls replacement of like-named temporary or permanent SAS data sets when the new one is empty. output V8

REPLACE= controls replacement of like-named temporary or permanent SAS data sets. output all

REUSE= specifies reuse of space when observations are added to a compressed data set. output V8, V7, V6

SORTEDBY= specifies how the data set is currently sorted. inputoutputupdate V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE

TOBSNO= (table note 1) specifies the number of observations to be transmitted in each multi-observation exchange with a SAS server inputoutputupdate V8, V7

TRANTAB= specifies a translation table for character conversions. inputoutputupdate V8, V7

TYPE= specifies the data set type for input, update, and output data. inputoutputupdate all

WHERE= selects observations that meet the specified condition. input all

WHEREUP= specifies whether to evaluate added observations and modified observations against a WHERE clause. inputoutputupdate V8, V7

WRITE= assigns a write password to a SAS file. outputupdate V8, V7TAPE, V7TAPE

***Summary of SAS Data Set Options***
Option Name	Description	When Used	Engines
ALTER=	assigns an alter password to a SAS file.	outputupdate	V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE
BLKSIZE=	specifies the default block size for SAS data libraries	inputoutputupdate	V8, V7, TAPE, V8TAPE, V7TAPE
BUFNO=	specifies the number of buffers for processing a SAS data set.	inputoutputupdate	V8, V7, V6TAPE, V6TAPE, V7TAPE
BUFSIZE=	specifies the buffer size for output SAS data sets.	output	V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE
CNTLLEV=	specifies the level of shared access allowed to the SAS data set.	input	V8, V7
COMPRESS=	compresses observations in an output SAS data set.	output	V8, V7, V6
DLDMGACTION=	specifies which action to take when a SAS catalog in a SAS data library is detected as damaged.	inputoutputupdate	V8, V7
DROP=	excludes variables from processing or from output SAS data sets.	inputoutputupdate	all
ENCRYPT=	encrypts SAS data files	output	V8, V7, V6
FILECLOSE=	specifies how a tape volume is to be positioned when a SAS file on that volume is closed.	inputoutput	TAPE, V7TAPE
FIRSTOBS=	causes processing to begin at a specified observation.	input	all
GENMAX=	requests generations for a data set and specifies the maximum number of versions	outputupdate	V8, V7
GENNUM=	references a specific generation of a data set	inputoutputupdate	V8, V7
IDXNAME=	directs SAS to use a specific index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression	input	V8, V7
IDXWHERE=	overrides SAS System decision whether to use an index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression	input	V8, V7
IN=	creates a variable that indicates whether the data set contributed data to the current observation.	inputupdate	all
INDEX=	defines indexes when creating a data set.	output	V8, V7, V6
KEEP=	specifies variables for processing or writing to output SAS data sets.	inputoutputupdate	all
LABEL=	specifies a label for the data set.	inputoutputupdate	all
OBS=	specifies the last observation of the data set to process.	input	all
OUTREP=	specifies an operating environment's requirements vector for an output file	output	V8, V7
POINTOBS=	controls whether a compressed data set may be processed with random access (by observation number) rather than sequential access only	output	V8
PW=	assigns a read, write, and alter password to a SAS file.	outputupdate	V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE
PWREQ=	controls the pop up of a requestor window for a data set password	inputoutputupdate	V6
READ=	assigns a read password to a SAS file.	outputupdate	V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE
RENAME=	changes the name of a variable.	inputoutputupdate	all
REPEMPTY=	controls replacement of like-named temporary or permanent SAS data sets when the new one is empty.	output	V8
REPLACE=	controls replacement of like-named temporary or permanent SAS data sets.	output	all
REUSE=	specifies reuse of space when observations are added to a compressed data set.	output	V8, V7, V6
SORTEDBY=	specifies how the data set is currently sorted.	inputoutputupdate	V8, V7, V6TAPE, V7TAPE
TOBSNO= (table note 1)	specifies the number of observations to be transmitted in each multi-observation exchange with a SAS server	inputoutputupdate	V8, V7
TRANTAB=	specifies a translation table for character conversions.	inputoutputupdate	V8, V7
TYPE=	specifies the data set type for input, update, and output data.	inputoutputupdate	all
WHERE=	selects observations that meet the specified condition.	input	all
WHEREUP=	specifies whether to evaluate added observations and modified observations against a WHERE clause.	inputoutputupdate	V8, V7
WRITE=	assigns a write password to a SAS file.	outputupdate	V8, V7TAPE, V7TAPE

TABLE NOTE 1:

The TOBSNO= option is valid only for data sets that are accessed through a SAS server via the REMOTE engine.

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