SAS/ACCESS Interface to ADABAS Software

Effects of the SAS/ACCESS Interface on ADABAS Data

When you access ADABAS data through the SAS/ACCESS interface, the interface view engine maps the ADABAS data into SAS observations.

Multiple-value field occurrences are mapped to multiple SAS variables. For example, if the ADABAS data have a multiple-value field named JOBTITLE with two occurrences, the resulting SAS variables would be JOBTITL1 and JOBTITL2.
Periodic group occurrences are mapped to multiple SAS observations. For example, if the ADABAS data have a periodic group field named EDUCATION consisting of data fields COLLEGE, DEGREE, and YEAR, there would be one observation for COLLEGE, DEGREE, and YEAR for each periodic group occurrence.

When you create SAS/ACCESS descriptor files for ADABAS data, you need to be aware of how some data fields are affected by the ACCESS procedure and how you can use them as variables in SAS programs.

When you create a SAS/ACCESS descriptor file for ADABAS data, the ACCESS procedure automatically creates a SAS variable named ISN. This variable gives you access to the ISNs (internal sequence numbers) for all the ADABAS logical records.
Selecting either a subdescriptor or a superdescriptor data field creates a SAS variable for the data field. The variable can be retrieved and used in a WHERE clause; however, the variable cannot be updated.
Selecting a phonetic descriptor data field creates a SAS variable for that phonetic descriptor. The values of the data field for which the phonetic descriptor is defined are retrieved, and the phonetic descriptor can be used in a WHERE clause. However, this variable cannot be updated.
If you use a variable for a phonetic descriptor in a SAS WHERE clause, the interface view engine must be able to process the entire SAS WHERE clause.
For a multiple-value data field, the ACCESS procedure creates SAS variables that reference individual occurrences and a SAS variable that references all occurrences to perform special WHERE clause queries. For example, in the NATURAL DDM named CUSTOMERS, the BRANCH-OFFICE data field is a multiple-value data field with four occurrences. The ACCESS procedure creates SAS variables named BRANCH_1, BRANCH_2, and so on, and a SAS variable named BR_ANY. For more information and examples, see Using Multiple-Value Fields in Selection Criteria.
For a periodic group data field, the ACCESS procedure creates a SAS variable for the occurrence number within the periodic group. For example, in the NATURAL DDM named CUSTOMERS, the SIGNATURE-LIST data field is a periodic group for data fields LIMIT and SIGNATURE. PROC ACCESS creates a SAS variable named SL_OCCUR for the occurrence numbers. For more information and examples, see Using Periodic Group Fields in Selection Criteria.

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