Definitions

is a SAS data set that uses descriptor information and data from other files. SAS data views allow you to dynamically combine data from various sources without using disk space to create a new data set. While a SAS data file actually contains data values, a SAS data view contains only references to data stored elsewhere. SAS data views are of member type VIEW. In most cases, you can use a SAS data view as though it were a SAS data file. There are two general types of SAS data views: native and interface.

native view

is a SAS data view that is created with either a DATA step or PROC SQL.

interface view

is a SAS data view that is created with SAS/ACCESS software and can read or write data to and from a database management system (DBMS), such as DB2 or ORACLE. Interface views are also referred to as SAS/ACCESS views. To use SAS/ACCESS views, you must have a license for SAS/ACCESS software.

Note: Beginning in Version 7, you might be able to create native views that access DBMS data by using a SAS/ACCESS dynamic LIBNAME engine. See SAS/ACCESS Views, Accessing Data in a DBMS or the SAS/ACCESS documentation for your DBMS for more information. [cautionend]

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