DATA Statement

Details

• Using the DATA Statement
• Using Both a READ Password and an ALTER Password
• Creating an Output Data Set (Form 1)
• Creating a DATA Step View (Form 2)
• Creating a Stored Compiled DATA Step Program (Form 3)
• Describing a DATA Step View (Form 4)
• Executing a Stored Compiled DATA Step Program (Form 5)

Using the DATA Statement

The DATA step begins with the DATA statement. You use the DATA statement to create these types of output: SAS data sets, data views, and stored programs. You can specify more than one output in a DATA statement. However, only one of the outputs can be a data view. You create a view by specifying the VIEW= option and create a stored program by specifying the PGM= option.

Using Both a READ Password and an ALTER Password

If you use both a READ password and an ALTER password in creating a stored compiled DATA step program or a DATA step view, these items apply:

• A READ or ALTER password is required to execute the stored compiled DATA step program or DATA step view.
• A READ or ALTER password is required if the stored compiled DATA step program or DATA step view contains both DESCRIBE and EXECUTE statements.
  • If you use an ALTER password with the DESCRIBE and EXECUTE statements, these items apply:
    • SAS executes both the DESCRIBE and EXECUTE statements.
    • If you execute a stored compiled DATA step program or DATA step view with an invalid ALTER password:

      The DESCRIBE statement does not execute.

      In batch mode, the EXECUTE statement has no effect.

      In interactive mode, SAS prompts you for a READ password. If the READ password is valid, SAS processes the EXECUTE statement. If it is invalid, SAS does not process the EXECUTE statement.

  • If you use a READ password with the DESCRIBE and EXECUTE statements, these items apply:
    • In interactive mode, SAS prompts you for the ALTER password.

      If you enter a valid ALTER password, SAS executes both the DESCRIBE and EXECUTE statements.

      If you enter an invalid ALTER password, SAS processes the EXECUTE statement but not the DESCRIBE statement.

    • In batch mode, SAS processes the EXECUTE statement but not the DESCRIBE statement.
    • In both interactive and batch modes, if you specify an invalid READ password SAS does not process the EXECUTE statement.
• An ALTER password is required if the stored compiled DATA step program or DATA step view contains a DESCRIBE statement.
• An ALTER password is required to replace the stored compiled DATA step program or DATA step view.

Creating an Output Data Set (Form 1)

Use the DATA statement to create one or more output data sets. You can use data set options to customize the output data set.

Here is a DATA step that creates two output data sets, EXAMPLE1 and EXAMPLE2. This DATA step example uses the data set option DROP to prevent the variable IDNUMBER from being written to the EXAMPLE2 data set.

data example1 example2 (drop=IDnumber);
   set sample;
   . . .more SAS statements. . .
run; 

Creating a DATA Step View (Form 2)

You can create DATA step views and execute them at a later time. This DATA step example creates a DATA step view. It uses the SOURCE=ENCRYPT option to both save and encrypt the source code.

data phone_list / view=phone_list (source=encrypt);
   set customer_list;
   . . .more SAS statements. . . 
run;

For more information, see DATA Step Views in SAS Language Reference: Concepts.

Creating a Stored Compiled DATA Step Program (Form 3)

The ability to compile and store DATA step programs enables you to execute the stored programs later. Stored compiled DATA step programs can reduce processing costs by eliminating the need to compile DATA step programs repeatedly. This DATA step example compiles and stores a DATA step program. It uses the ALTER password option, which enables the user to replace an existing stored program, and to protect the stored compiled program from being replaced.

data testfile / pgm=stored.test_program (alter=sales);
   set sales_data;
   . . .more SAS statements. . .
run;

For more information, see Stored Compiled DATA Step Programs in SAS Language Reference: Concepts.

Describing a DATA Step View (Form 4)

This example uses the DESCRIBE statement in a DATA step view to write a copy of the source code to the SAS log.

data view=inventory;
   describe;
run;  

For more information, see DESCRIBE Statement.

Executing a Stored Compiled DATA Step Program (Form 5)

This example executes a stored compiled DATA step program. It uses the DESCRIBE statement to write a copy of the source code to the SAS log.

libname stored 'SAS library';
data pgm=stored.employee_list;
   describe;
   execute;
run;

libname stored 'SAS library';
data pgm=stored.test_program;
   describe;
   execute;
   . . .more SAS statements. . . 
run;

For more information, see DESCRIBE Statement and EXECUTE Statement.