UNIQUE

UNIQUE

Generates SAS variable names based on PC file column names.

Optional statement

Applies to: view descriptor

Interacts with: ASSIGN

Not allowed with: UPDATE

Syntax
Details

Syntax

UNIQUE <=> YES|NO|Y|N ;

Details

The UNIQUE statement specifies whether the SAS/ACCESS interface generates unique SAS variable names for PC file columns for which SAS variable names have not been entered. You cannot use the UNIQUE statement when you are updating a view descriptor.

An editing statement, such as UNIQUE, must follow the CREATE statement when you create a view descriptor. See CREATE for more information on the order of statements. The UNIQUE statement is affected by whether you specified the ASSIGN statement when you created the access descriptor on which this view is based, as follows:

If you specified the ASSIGN=YES statement, you cannot specify UNIQUE when creating a view descriptor. YES causes the SAS System to generate unique names, so UNIQUE is not necessary.
If you omitted the ASSIGN statement or specified ASSIGN=NO, you must resolve any duplicate SAS variable names in the view descriptor. You can use UNIQUE to generate unique names automatically, or you can use the RENAME statement to resolve duplicate names yourself. See RENAME for information on that statement.

If duplicate SAS variable names exist in the access descriptor on which you are creating a view descriptor, you can specify UNIQUE to resolve the duplication. When you specify UNIQUE=YES, the SAS/ACCESS interface appends numbers to any duplicate SAS variable names, thus making each variable name unique. (See CREATE for an explanation of how to create descriptors.)

If you specify UNIQUE=NO, the SAS/ACCESS interface continues to allow duplicate SAS variable names to exist. You must resolve these duplicate names before saving (and thereby creating) the view descriptor.

Note: It is recommended that you use the UNIQUE statement. If you omit it and the SAS System encounters duplicate SAS variable names in a view descriptor, your job fails.

The equals (=) sign is optional in the UNIQUE statement. UN is the alias for UNIQUE. [cautionend]

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Optional statement
Applies to:	view descriptor
Interacts with:	ASSIGN
Not allowed with:	UPDATE