SAS Companion for the CMS Environment

Summary Table of SAS Data Set Options in the CMS Environment

All the SAS data set options (the data set options that are specific to CMS as well as to the portable data set options) are listed in SAS Language Reference: Dictionary. Summary of SAS Data Set Options gives a brief description of each option and explains whether it can be used for a data set that is opened for input (a data set being read), output (a data set being created), or update (a data set being updated).

The See column refers you to more detailed information about an option, based on the following legend:

COMP See Data Set Options in the CMS Environment

LR See SAS Language Reference: Dictionary

The Engines column lists the engines with which the option is valid, based on the following legend:

all V8, V7, V6, DBI applies to all disk and tape engines, including database interface (DBI) engines.

all V8, V7, V6 applies to all disk and tape engines except DBI engines.

V8TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE applies to all tape engines for the specified SAS versions; does not apply to disk or DBI engines.

V8, V7, V6 applies to all disk engines for the specified versions; does not apply to tape or DBI engines.

Certain data set options in the following table have two rows, one specifying when the option can be used with Version 8, 7, and 6 engines, and the other with Version 5 engines.

Summary of SAS Data Set Options
Data Set Option Description When Used See Engine

ALTER= assigns an alter password to a SAS file and enables access to a password-protected SAS file input,
output,
update
LR V8, V7, V6

BLKSIZE= specifies buffer size for all I/O operations input,
output
COMP all V8, V7, V6

input COMP V5

BUFNO= specifies the number of buffers for processing a SAS data set input,
output,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6

input LR V5

BUFSIZE= specifies permanent buffer size for output SAS data sets output LR all V8, V7, V6

CNTLLEV= specifies the level of shared access allowed to the SAS data set input,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6

input LR V5

COMPRESS= compresses observations in an output SAS data set output LR all V8, V7, V6

DLDMGACTION specifies what type of action to take when a SAS file in a SAS data library is detected as damaged input,
output,
update
LR V8

DROP= excludes variables from processing or from output SAS data sets input,
output,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

ENCRYPT= encrypts SAS data files output LR all V8

FILECLOSE= specifies the volume positioning to be performed when a SAS file residing on tape is closed input,
output
LR V8TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE

FILEDISP= specifies the initial disposition for a SAS data library on tape input,
output
COMP V8TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE

FIRSTOBS= causes processing to begin at a specified observation input LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

GENMAX= requests generations for a file and specifies the maximum number of generations input,
output,
update
LR V8

GENNUM= references a specific generation of a data set input,
output,
update
LR V8

IDXNAME= directs SAS to use a specific index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression input LR V8

IDXWHERE= overrides the SAS decision about whether to use an index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression input LR V8

IN= creates a variable that indicates whether the data set contributed data to the current observation (with SET, MERGE, MODIFY, UPDATE statements only) input LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

INDEX= defines one or more indexes for a new data set output LR V8, V7, V6

KEEP= specifies variables for processing or writing to output SAS data sets input,
output,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

LABEL= specifies a label for the data set input,
output,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

OBS= specifies the last observation of the data set to process input LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

OUTREP= specifies an output format for an operating environment other than CMS output LR all V8

POINTOBS= controls whether a new compressed data set may be processed by observation number input LR V8

PW= assigns a read, write, and alternate password to a SAS file input,
output,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6

PWREQ= specifies whether to display a requestor window if a password has not been supplied input,
output,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6

READ= specifies a read password for a SAS file input,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6

input LR V5

RENAME= changes the name of a variable input,
output,
update,
LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

REPLACE= overrides the REPLACE= system option output LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

REUSE= specifies reuse of space when observations are added to a compressed data set output LR all V8, V7, V6

SORTEDBY= specifies how the data set is currently stored input,
output,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6

input LR V5

TOBSNO= specifies the number of observations to be transmitted in each multi-observation exchange with a SAS server input,
output,
update
LR REMOTE

TYPE= specifies the data set type for input, update, and output data input,
output,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

WHERE= selects observations that meet the specified condition input,
update
LR all V8, V7, V6, DBI

WHEREUP= specifies whether to evaluate added observations and modified observations against a WHERE expression input,
update
LR V8

WRITE= assigns a write password to a SAS file and enables access to a write-protected SAS file input,
output,
update
LR V8, V7, V6

***Summary of SAS Data Set Options***
Data Set Option	Description	When Used	See	Engine
ALTER=	assigns an alter password to a SAS file and enables access to a password-protected SAS file	input, output, update	LR	V8, V7, V6
BLKSIZE=	specifies buffer size for all I/O operations	input, output	COMP	all V8, V7, V6
		input	COMP	V5
BUFNO=	specifies the number of buffers for processing a SAS data set	input, output, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6
		input	LR	V5
BUFSIZE=	specifies permanent buffer size for output SAS data sets	output	LR	all V8, V7, V6
CNTLLEV=	specifies the level of shared access allowed to the SAS data set	input, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6
		input	LR	V5
COMPRESS=	compresses observations in an output SAS data set	output	LR	all V8, V7, V6
DLDMGACTION	specifies what type of action to take when a SAS file in a SAS data library is detected as damaged	input, output, update	LR	V8
DROP=	excludes variables from processing or from output SAS data sets	input, output, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
ENCRYPT=	encrypts SAS data files	output	LR	all V8
FILECLOSE=	specifies the volume positioning to be performed when a SAS file residing on tape is closed	input, output	LR	V8TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE
FILEDISP=	specifies the initial disposition for a SAS data library on tape	input, output	COMP	V8TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE
FIRSTOBS=	causes processing to begin at a specified observation	input	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
GENMAX=	requests generations for a file and specifies the maximum number of generations	input, output, update	LR	V8
GENNUM=	references a specific generation of a data set	input, output, update	LR	V8
IDXNAME=	directs SAS to use a specific index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression	input	LR	V8
IDXWHERE=	overrides the SAS decision about whether to use an index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression	input	LR	V8
IN=	creates a variable that indicates whether the data set contributed data to the current observation (with SET, MERGE, MODIFY, UPDATE statements only)	input	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
INDEX=	defines one or more indexes for a new data set	output	LR	V8, V7, V6
KEEP=	specifies variables for processing or writing to output SAS data sets	input, output, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
LABEL=	specifies a label for the data set	input, output, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
OBS=	specifies the last observation of the data set to process	input	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
OUTREP=	specifies an output format for an operating environment other than CMS	output	LR	all V8
POINTOBS=	controls whether a new compressed data set may be processed by observation number	input	LR	V8
PW=	assigns a read, write, and alternate password to a SAS file	input, output, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6
PWREQ=	specifies whether to display a requestor window if a password has not been supplied	input, output, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6
READ=	specifies a read password for a SAS file	input, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6
		input	LR	V5
RENAME=	changes the name of a variable	input, output, update,	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
REPLACE=	overrides the REPLACE= system option	output	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
REUSE=	specifies reuse of space when observations are added to a compressed data set	output	LR	all V8, V7, V6
SORTEDBY=	specifies how the data set is currently stored	input, output, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6
		input	LR	V5
TOBSNO=	specifies the number of observations to be transmitted in each multi-observation exchange with a SAS server	input, output, update	LR	REMOTE
TYPE=	specifies the data set type for input, update, and output data	input, output, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
WHERE=	selects observations that meet the specified condition	input, update	LR	all V8, V7, V6, DBI
WHEREUP=	specifies whether to evaluate added observations and modified observations against a WHERE expression	input, update	LR	V8
WRITE=	assigns a write password to a SAS file and enables access to a write-protected SAS file	input, output, update	LR	V8, V7, V6

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COMP	See Data Set Options in the CMS Environment
LR	See SAS Language Reference: Dictionary

all V8, V7, V6, DBI	applies to all disk and tape engines, including database interface (DBI) engines.
all V8, V7, V6	applies to all disk and tape engines except DBI engines.
V8TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE	applies to all tape engines for the specified SAS versions; does not apply to disk or DBI engines.
V8, V7, V6	applies to all disk engines for the specified versions; does not apply to tape or DBI engines.