BYKEY

BYKEY

Designates one or more items as sort keys

Optional statement

Applies to: access descriptor and view descriptor

Syntax
Details

Syntax

BYKEY variable-identifier<=> YES|NO
<...variable-identifier-n<=> YES|NO>;

Details

The BYKEY statement designates one or more items as BY keys and in a view descriptor, also selects them for the view.

The BYKEY statement cannot be used to change the BYKEY value in a view descriptor if the ASSIGN= statement in the access descriptor from which the view descriptor is derived has a value of YES (or Y).

The BYKEY statement applies to data items. The variable-identifier argument can be one of the following:

current SAS name for the data item
Note: Any name on the lefthand side of the equal sign must be a SAS name, not a SYSTEM 2000 name. In an access descriptor, if the ASSIGN statement is omitted, you must use the item number or component number (C-number) on the lefthand side of the equal sign.
positional equivalent, which is the number that represents the item, as given by the LIST statement
SYSTEM 2000 C-number of the database item.

For example, if you want to make the third item a BY key, issue the following statement:

bykey 3=y;

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Optional statement
Applies to:	access descriptor and view descriptor