Understanding SAS Data Libraries

What Is a SAS Data Library?

A SAS data library is a collection of one or more SAS files that are recognized by SAS and can be referenced and stored as a unit. Each file is a member of the library. SAS data libraries help to organize your work. For example, if a SAS program uses more than one SAS file, then you can keep all the files in the same library. Organizing files in libraries makes it easier to locate the files and reference them in a program.

Under most operating environments, a SAS data library roughly corresponds to the level of organization that the operating environment uses to organize files. For example, in directory-based operating environments, a SAS data library is a group of SAS files in the same directory. The directory might contain other files, but only the SAS files are part of the SAS data library.

Operating Environment Information: Under the CMS operating environment, a SAS data library is a group of SAS files with the same filetype. Under the z/OS operating environment, a SAS data library is a specially formatted z/OS data set. This kind of data set can contain only SAS files. [cautionend]

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