Previous Page | Next Page

Doing More with Data Management

Altering the Properties of a SAS Table

The properties of a SAS table describe information about the table. Using Utilities on the Data Management menu, you can access the Properties window to browse or alter a table's properties. The properties of a table include the table name, engine, date created, date last modified, and number of rows, along with additional information. Of the table attributes, you can edit the table type and label. In addition, the Properties window displays information about each column, including the name, type, length, position, label, format, and informat, and whether or not the column serves as an index for the table. The name, label, format, and informat for each column can be edited.

In this section, you change the format of the PRICE column in the HOUSES table, the label for the BEDROOMS column, and the label of the table. This process uses the COSTRNGE. format that you created in the previous section. After you change the table, you run the following listing report to view your changes.

The following listing report shows the unaltered HOUSES table.

Listing of Unaltered HOUSES Table

[Listing of Unaltered HOUSES Table]

Additional Information

For additional information on altering the properties of a SAS table, see "The DATASETS Procedure" in Base SAS Procedures Guide.

Instructions

  1. To edit the properties of a SAS table, follow this selection path:Tasks [arrow] Data Management [arrow] Utilities [arrow] Contents of a table [arrow] Edit SAS table contentsThe Select Table window appears.

  2. Select the SASUSER.HOUSES table and select OK.

    The Properties window opens with information about the HOUSES table.

    Properties Window for HOUSES table

    [Properties Window for HOUSES table]

  3. Select the down arrow at the top of the window, and then select Columns. A list of columns in the HOUSES table appears.

  4. For mainframes: In the command field for the PRICE column, type S (for Select) and press ENTER. Then, type S in the command field for Format and press ENTER. For desktops: Right-click the Pricecolumn and select Modify Format.

    The Modify window appears for the Format attribute.

    Modify Window

    [Modify Window]

  5. Type COSTRNGE. over DOLLAR12.and select OK. The Properties window reappears with the new format.

  6. Repeat the previous two steps to change the label of the BEDROOMS column to Bedrooms . (If necessary, type blanks over any leftover letters from the old label.)

  7. Select the down arrow at the top of the window, and then select General Properties.

  8. For mainframes: Type M in the command field for Label and press ENTER. For desktops: Double-click the Label attribute.

  9. Type Houses for sale over the existing label. Type blanks over any leftover letters from the old label.

  10. Follow this selection path to return to the WorkPlace menu:OK [arrow] OK [arrow] Goback

  11. To display a listing report for the modified HOUSES table, follow this selection path: Tasks [arrow] Report Writing [arrow] ListingIf SASUSER.HOUSES is not the active table, use the Table button to select the SASUSER.HOUSES table. Follow this selection path to view the table:Run [arrow] Submit

    Listing of Altered Houses Table

    [Listing of Altered Houses Table]

    Notice the changes in the formats and labels.

  12. Follow the directions in Returning to SAS/ASSIST Windows from the Output Window to return to SAS/ASSIST software.

Previous Page | Next Page | Top of Page

Copyright © 2012 by SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. All rights reserved.