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

LR See SAS Language Reference: Dictionary

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

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

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

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

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

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COMP	See Data Set Options
LR	See SAS Language Reference: Dictionary

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