Summary of SAS Data Set Options in the z/OS Environment

The following table describes both the data set options specific to z/OS and the portable data set options.
The See column tells you where to look for more detailed information about an option, based on the following legend:
COMP
See the description of the data set option in this chapter.
LR
See SAS Data Set Options: Reference.
NLS
See SAS National Language Support (NLS): Reference Guide
The Engines column lists the engines with which the option is valid, based on the following legend:
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
Applies to all disk and tape engines, including database interface (DBI) engines.
all V9, V8, V7, V6, V5
Applies to all disk and tape engines except DBI engines.
V9TAPE, V8TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE, V5TAPE
Applies to all tape engines for the specified SAS versions; does not apply to disk or DBI engines.
V9, V8, V7, V6, V5
Applies to all disk engines for the specified versions; does not apply to tape or DBI engines.
Note: For the purposes of the following table, V7, V8, and V9 are the same engine, and V7TAPE, V8TAPE, and V9TAPE are the same engine.
Summary Table of SAS Data Set Options
Data Set Option
Description
When Used
See
Engines
ALTER=
Specifies a password for a SAS file that prevents users from replacing or deleting the file, but permits read and write access.
output, update
COMP
all V9, V8, V7, V6
BUFNO=
Specifies the number of buffers to be allocated for processing a SAS data set.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6
input
LR
all V5
BUFSIZE=
Specifies the size of a permanent buffer page for an output SAS data set.
output
COMP, LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6
CNTLLEV=
Specifies the level of shared access to SAS data sets.
input, update
LR
V9, V8, V7, V6
input
LR
V5
COMPRESS=
Controls the compression of observations in a new output SAS data set.
output
LR
V9, V8, V7, V6, V9TAPE, V8TAPE, V7TAPE
DLDMGACTION=
Specifies the action to take when a SAS data set in a SAS library is detected as damaged.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6
DROP=
Excludes variables from processing or from output SAS data sets.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
input
LR
V5
ENCODING=
Overrides the encoding for the input or output SAS data set.
input
NLS
V9, V8, V7, V9TAPE, V8TAPE, V7TAPE
ENCRYPT=
Specifies whether to encrypt an output SAS data set.
output
LR
all V8
FILECLOSE=
Specifies how a tape is positioned when a SAS file on the tape is closed.
input, output
Comp, LR
V9TAPE, V6TAPE, V5TAPE
input
LR
V5TAPE
FILEDISP=
Specifies the initial disposition for a sequential-format SAS library.
input, output
COMP
V9TAPE, V8TAPE, V7TAPE, V6TAPE
input
COMP
V5TAPE
FIRSTOBS=
Specifies which observation SAS processes first.
input, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
GENMAX=
Requests generations for a SAS data set, and specifies the maximum number of versions.
output, update
LR
V9, V8, V7
GENNUM=
Specifies a particular generation of a SAS data set.
input, output, update
LR
V9, V8, V7
IDXNAME=
Specifies that SAS use a specific index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression.
input, update
LR
V9, V8, V7, V6
IDXWHERE=
Overrides the SAS decision about whether to use an index to satisfy the conditions of a WHERE expression.
input, update
LR
V9, V8, V7, V6
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 V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
INDEX=
Defines an index for a new output SAS data set.
output
LR
V9, V8, V7, V6, V9TAPE, V8TAPE, V7TAPE
KEEP=
Specifies variables for processing or for writing to output SAS data sets.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
input
LR
all V5
LABEL=
Specifies a label for a SAS data set.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
input
LR
all V5
OBS=
Specifies the last observation of the data set to process.
input, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
OBSBUF=
Determines the size of the view buffer for processing a DATA step view.
input
LR
V9, V8, V7
OUTREP=
Specifies an output format for an operating environment other than z/OS.
output
LR
V9, V8, V7, V9TAPE
POINTOBS=
Controls whether a compressed data set can be processed with random access (by observation number) rather than with sequential access only.
input
LR
V9, V8, V7
PW=
Assigns a READ, WRITE, or ALTER password to a SAS file, and enables access to a password-protected file.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6
input
LR
all V5
PWREQ=
Specifies whether to display a dialog box for a SAS data set password.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6
input
LR
all V5
READ=
Assigns a password to a SAS file, and enables access to a read-protected SAS file.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6
input
LR
V5
RENAME=
Changes the name of a variable.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
input
LR
V5
REPEMPTY=
Specifies whether a new, empty data set can overwrite an existing SAS data set that has the same name.
output
LR
V9, V8
REPLACE=
Specifies whether a new SAS data set that contains data can overwrite an existing data set that has the same name.
output
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
REUSE=
Specifies whether new observations can be written to freed space in compressed SAS data sets.
output
LR
V9, V8, V7, V6
SORTEDBY=
Indicates how the SAS data set is currently sorted.
input, output update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6
input
LR
all V5
SPILL=
Specifies whether to create a spill file for non-sequential processing of a DATA step view.
output
LR
V9, V8, V7
TOBSNO=
Specifies the number of observations to send in a client/server transfer.
input, output, update
LR
REMOTE
TYPE=
Specifies the data set type for a specially structured SAS data set.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
input
LR
all V5
WHERE=
Selects observations that meet the specified condition.
input, output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6, DBI
input
LR
all V5
WHEREUP=
Specifies whether to evaluate added observations and modified observations against a WHERE clause.
input, output, update
LR
V9, V8, V7, V6
input
LR
all V5
WRITE=
Assigns a write password to a SAS data set, and enables access to a write-protected SAS file.
output, update
LR
all V9, V8, V7, V6