SAS/ACCESS Software for PC File Formats: Reference

Glossary

	This glossary defines SAS software terms that are used in this document as well as terms that relate specifically to SAS/ACCESS software.
access descriptor	a SAS/ACCESS file that describes data to SAS software that is in a PC file. You use an access descriptor as a master descriptor file from which to create view descriptors. See also view and view descriptor.
browsing data	the process of viewing the observations in a file. Depending on how the file is accessed, observations may be viewed one at a time or as a group in a tabular format. You cannot update data that you are browsing.
column	a vertical component of a PC file. Each column has a unique name and contains data of a specific type and with certain attributes. A column is analogous to a variable in SAS terminology.
column function	an operation that is computed over each value in the column that is named as the argument of the function. For example, AVG (SALARY) is a column function.
data type	an attribute of every column in a table. The data type indicates to the operating environment how much physical storage to set aside for the column and the type of data that the column contains. It is similar to the type attribute of SAS variables.
data value	in SAS software, a unit of character or numeric information in a SAS data set. A data value represents one variable in an observation.
database	an organized collection of related data. In most relational database management systems, a database contains objects such as tables, views, and indexes.
database field	a vertical component of a dBASE .DBF file that contains data of a specific type with certain attributes. A database field is analogous to a variable in SAS terminology.
database file	a two-dimensional system of representing data in records and fields.
database management system (DBMS)	an integrated software package that enables you to create and manipulate data in the form of databases. See also relational database management system.
editing data	the process of viewing a file with the ability to change its data. Depending on how the file is accessed, observations may be viewed one at a time or as a group in a tabular format.
engine	a part of SAS software that reads from or writes to a file. Each engine allows SAS software to access files that have a particular format. There are several types of engines. See also interface view engine.
file	a collection of related records that are treated as a unit. SAS files are processed and controlled through SAS software and are stored in a SAS data library.
format	an instruction that SAS software uses to display or write each value of a variable. Some formats are supplied by SAS software. Other formats can be written by the user with the FORMAT procedure in base SAS software or created using SAS/TOOLKIT software. In SAS/ACCESS software, the default formats vary according to the interface product.
index	(1) in SAS software, a component of a SAS data set that enables SAS software to access observations in the SAS data set quickly and efficiently. The purpose of SAS indexes is to optimize WHERE-clause processing and to facilitate BY-group processing. (2) in dBASE, a named object that directs the database management system (DBMS) to the storage location of a particular data value for a given column. These indexes are also used to optimize WHERE-clause processing and join processing. SAS software cannot use dBASE indexes in data retrieval.
informat	a pattern that SAS software uses to determine how values that are entered in variable fields should be interpreted. SAS software provides a set of standard informats and also enables you to define your own custom informats.
interface view engine	a SAS software engine that retrieves data directly from files that have been formatted by other software vendors.
libref	the name that is temporarily associated with a SAS data library. For example, in the name SASUSERS.ACCOUNTS, the name SASUSER is the libref. You assign a libref with a LIBNAME statement or with operating system control language.
member	a SAS file in a SAS data library.
member name	a name that is given to a SAS file in a SAS data library.
member type	a name assigned by SAS software that identifies the type of information stored in a SAS file. Member types include ACCESS, DATA, CATALOG, PROGRAM, and VIEW.
missing value	a value in SAS software that indicates that no data are stored in the variable for the current observation. By default, SAS software represents a missing numeric value with a single period, and a missing character value is represented by a blank space.
observation	the horizontal component of a SAS data file. An observation is a collection of data values that are associated with a single entity, such as a customer or state. Each observation contains one data value for each variable in the data file. An observation is analogous to a row in a PC file.
PROC SQL view	a SAS data set (of type VIEW) that is created by the SQL procedure. A PROC SQL view contains no data; instead, it stores the information that is required to read data values from its underlying files, which can include SAS data files, SAS/ACCESS views, DATA step views, or other PROC SQL views. When executed, a PROC SQL view's output can be either a subset or a superset of one or more underlying files. However, in the current release, you cannot reference a PROC SQL view to update its underlying data. See also view.
record	in a dBASE database file, the horizontal component. It is analogous to a SAS observation.
relational database management system	a database management system that organizes and accesses data according to relationships between data items. dBASE IV is a relational database management system.
row	the horizontal component of a PC file. A row is analogous to a SAS observation.
SAS data file	one of the forms of a SAS data set that was implemented in Version 6 and later of SAS software. A SAS data file contains both the data values and the descriptor information that is associated with the data, such as the variable attributes. In previous releases of SAS software, all SAS data sets were SAS data files. SAS data files are of member type DATA. In SAS software, a PROC SQL table is a SAS data file.
SAS data library	a collection of one or more SAS files that are recognized by SAS software and that are referenced and stored as a unit. Each file is a member of the library.
SAS data set	(1) descriptor information and its related data values, organized as a table of observations and variables that can be processed by SAS software. A SAS data set can be either a SAS data file or a SAS data view. (2) in comparison to database management systems, a collection of information that is stored as a unit under SAS software. A SAS data set is arranged in a rectangular, two-dimensional format. Each item in a SAS data set is called a data value. Data values in a row compose an observation, and those in a column compose a variable. See also SAS data file and SAS data view.
SAS data view	one of the forms of a SAS data set that were implemented in Version 6 and later of SAS software. A SAS data view contains only the descriptor and other information that is required to retrieve the data values from other data sources. PROC SQL views, SAS/ACCESS views, and DATA step views are considered SAS data views. SAS data views are of member type VIEW.
SAS/ACCESS views	See SAS data view and view descriptor.
Structured Query Language (SQL)	the standardized, high-level query language that is used in relational database management systems to create and manipulate database management system objects. SAS software implements SQL through the SQL procedure.
variable	a column in a SAS data set. A variable is a set of data values that describe a given characteristic across all observations. In the ACCESS procedure, variables are created from the PC files' columns or fields.
view	a definition of a virtual data set. The definition is named and stored for later use. This file contains no data but describes or defines data that are stored elsewhere. See also PROC SQL view, SAS data view, and view descriptor.
view descriptor	a SAS/ACCESS file that defines all or a subset of the database management system (DBMS) data that are described by an access descriptor. See also access descriptor.
windowing procedure	a procedure that can use interactive windows to perform a SAS software task. For example, FSVIEW is a windowing procedure.

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