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Special SAS data set names provide a means for creating null data sets and for naming and using default data sets.
Null Data Sets |
data _null_;
Using _NULL_ causes SAS to execute the DATA step as if it were creating a new data set, but no observations or variables are written to an output data set. This process can be a more efficient use of computer resources if you are using the DATA step for some function, such as report writing, for which the output of the DATA step does not need to be stored as a SAS data set.
Default Data Sets |
The _LAST_= system option enables you to designate a data set as the _LAST_ data set. The name you specify is used as the default data set until you create a new data set. You can use the _LAST_= system option when you want to use an existing permanent data set for a SAS job that contains a number of procedure steps. Issuing the _LAST_= system option enables you to avoid specifying the SAS data set name in each procedure statement. The following OPTIONS statement specifies a default SAS data set:
options _last_=schedule.january;
Automatic Naming Convention |
data;
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