Definition

DICTIONARY tables are read-only SAS data views that contain lists of things that are related to the current SAS session such as:

SAS data libraries currently available
SAS data sets currently in use or available
SAS system options settings for the current SAS session
SAS macros available
external files currently in use or available.

Data contained in DICTIONARY tables are continuously updated during the SAS session. At the startup of each SAS session, the SAS system creates dictionary tables, and places them in the SASHELP library, so that they may be used in a PROC step or a DATA step. For more information on dictionary tables and how these SAS data views are created, see "DICTIONARY Tables" in the SQL section of the SAS Procedures Guide.

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