SAS Companion for UNIX Environments

Filename Extensions and Member Types

Because the SAS System needs to distinguish between the different file types, it automatically assigns a certain extension to each file when it creates the file. Also, since a SAS file is a member of a SAS data library, the system assigns each file a SAS member type.

File Extensions for SAS File Types lists the file extensions and their corresponding SAS member types.

CAUTION:: Do not change the file extensions of SAS files. File extensions determine how the SAS System accesses files; changing them can cause unpredictable results.

File Extensions for SAS File Types
Version 6 Version 7 and Version 8

Random Access Files Sequential Access Files Random Access Files Sequential Access Files SAS Member Type Description

.sas .sas .sas .sas .sas SAS program

.lst .lst .lst .lst .lst Procedure output

.log .log .log .log .log SAS log file

.ssdnn (table note 1) .sdqnn .sas7bdat .sas7sdat DATA SAS data file

.snxnn .siqnn .sas7bndx .sas7sndx INDEX Data file index; not treated by the SAS System as a separate file

.sctnn .scqnn .sas7bcat .sas7scat CATALOG SAS catalog

.sspnn .ssqnn .sas7bpgm .sas7spgm PROGRAM Stored program (DATA step)

.ssvnn .svqnn .sas7bvew .sas7svew VIEW SAS data view

.ssann .saqnn .sas7bacs .sas7sacs ACCESS Access descriptor file

.sstnn .stqnn .sas7baud .sas7saud AUDIT Audit file

.sfdnn .sfqnn .sas7bfdb .sas7sfdb FDB Consolidation database

.ssmnn .smqnn .sas7bmdb .sas7smdb MDDB Multi-dimensional database

.sdsnn .soqnn .sas7bods .sas7sods SASODS Output delivery system file

.snmnn .sqnnn .sas7bdmd .sas7sdmd DMDB Data mining database

.sitnn .srqnn .sas7bitm .sas7ssitm ITEMSTOR Item store file

.sutnn .suqnn .sas7butl .sas7sutl UTILITY Utility file

.spunn .spqnn .sas7bput .sas7sput PUTILITY Permanent utility file

.ssbnn .sbqnn .sas7bbak .sas7sbak BACKUP Backup file

***File Extensions for SAS File Types***
Version 6	Version 7 and Version 8
Random Access Files	Sequential Access Files	Random Access Files	Sequential Access Files	SAS Member Type	Description
.sas	.sas	.sas	.sas	.sas	SAS program
.lst	.lst	.lst	.lst	.lst	Procedure output
.log	.log	.log	.log	.log	SAS log file
.ssdnn (table note 1)	.sdqnn	.sas7bdat	.sas7sdat	DATA	SAS data file
.snxnn	.siqnn	.sas7bndx	.sas7sndx	INDEX	Data file index; not treated by the SAS System as a separate file
.sctnn	.scqnn	.sas7bcat	.sas7scat	CATALOG	SAS catalog
.sspnn	.ssqnn	.sas7bpgm	.sas7spgm	PROGRAM	Stored program (DATA step)
.ssvnn	.svqnn	.sas7bvew	.sas7svew	VIEW	SAS data view
.ssann	.saqnn	.sas7bacs	.sas7sacs	ACCESS	Access descriptor file
.sstnn	.stqnn	.sas7baud	.sas7saud	AUDIT	Audit file
.sfdnn	.sfqnn	.sas7bfdb	.sas7sfdb	FDB	Consolidation database
.ssmnn	.smqnn	.sas7bmdb	.sas7smdb	MDDB	Multi-dimensional database
.sdsnn	.soqnn	.sas7bods	.sas7sods	SASODS	Output delivery system file
.snmnn	.sqnnn	.sas7bdmd	.sas7sdmd	DMDB	Data mining database
.sitnn	.srqnn	.sas7bitm	.sas7ssitm	ITEMSTOR	Item store file
.sutnn	.suqnn	.sas7butl	.sas7sutl	UTILITY	Utility file
.spunn	.spqnn	.sas7bput	.sas7sput	PUTILITY	Permanent utility file
.ssbnn	.sbqnn	.sas7bbak	.sas7sbak	BACKUP	Backup file

TABLE NOTE 1:

All Version 6 files end with a two-character code (nn

) that identifies sets of compatible SAS files. See Sharing Files

for more information.

A UNIX directory can store a variety of files, but you might find it more practical to store files in separate directories according to their use. Also, you can keep libraries that are accessed by different engines in the same directory, but this is not recommended. See Using Multiple Engines for a Library for more information.

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