SAS Data Set Options for the Metadata Engine

METAOUT= Data Set Option

Overview

The METAOUT= data set option for the metadata engine specifies access to an individual table in the data source.

Note: Although the METAOUT= data set option enables you to specify behavior for individual tables, you can use the METAOUT= argument for the LIBNAME statement to specify behavior for an entire library. However, for a library, the behavior applies to all members in the library, and remains for the duration of the library assignment.

Note: For library procedures such as PROC DATASETS, you must specify METAOUT= as an argument in the LIBNAME statement. You cannot specify it as a data set option.

Syntax

METAOUT=ALL | DATA | DATAREG | META

specifies the metadata engine's output processing of tables in the data source.

ALL: specifies that you can read, create, update, and delete observations in an existing physical table that is defined in metadata. You cannot create or delete a physical table. This is the default behavior.

Interaction:The user is restricted to only the tables that have been defined in the repository.

DATA: specifies that you can read, create, update, and delete a physical table. The user can access any table, regardless of whether it has been defined in the repository.

Restriction:The metadata LIBNAME engine does not support variable projection for tables in a third-party DBMS that are not defined in metadata. The engine retrieves all columns for undefined tables, regardless of the operation. If you need to select, insert data into, update, drop, or keep specific columns, register your DBMS tables in the SAS Metadata Repository. Variable projection is supported in Base SAS data sets that are not defined in metadata.

Interaction:The user is not restricted to tables that are defined in metadata, although there is restricted functionality for tables that are not defined in metadata.

DATAREG: specifies that you can read, update, and delete a physical table that is defined in metadata. You can create a table, but you cannot read, update, or delete the new table until it is defined in metadata. This value is like ALL, but it adds the ability to create new tables.

Interaction:The user is restricted to only the tables that have been defined in the repository.

META: specifies that you can read a physical table that is defined in metadata. You cannot create, update, or delete a physical table or observations. This value is like ALL, without the ability to create, update, and delete observations.

Interaction:The user is restricted to only the tables that have been defined in the repository.

Note:The METAOUT=META value might not be supported in the future releases of the software.

Default:ALL

Restriction:The preceding descriptions refer to the physical table. Metadata is read-only with the metadata engine. When you create, update, or delete physical data with the metadata engine, you must perform an additional step if you want to update the metadata. You must use a product like SAS Management Console or the METALIB procedure to update the metadata.

Interaction:If metadata for a table is defined, any authorizations are enforced for that table, regardless of the METAOUT= value.