Working with the Folders Tree :: SAS(R) Data Integration Studio 4.6: User's Guide

Overview of the Folders Tree

The Folders tree is one of the tree views in the left panel of the desktop. Like the Inventory tree, the Folders tree displays metadata for objects that are registered on the current metadata server, such as tables and libraries. The Inventory tree, however, organizes metadata by type and does not allow you to add custom folders. The Folders tree enables you to add custom folders.

Some folders in the Folders tree are provided by default, such as My Folder, Products, Shared Data, System, and Users. Typically, SAS Data Integration Studio users work with metadata in custom folders, such as the Data Collection 1 folder and Data Collection 2 (CM) folder as shown in the following display.

Example Folders in the Folders Tree

In general, an administrator sets up the custom folder structure in the Folders tree and sets permissions on those folders. Users simply save metadata to the appropriate folders in that structure. For example, given the folder structure shown in the preceding display, users can save metadata to a sub-folder under Data Collection 1. Users who work under change management can save metadata to a sub-folder under Data Collection 2 (CM). Any additions or changes to your custom folder structure should be carefully planned, as described in Considerations When You Change a Folder Path.

In general, SAS Data Integration Studio users work with the following folders:

The custom folders, such as the Data Collection 1 and Data Collection 2 (CM) folders in the preceding display, are used to organize metadata that you want to be available to other users. Custom folders are usually added to the root of the tree or to the Shared Data folder.
The Shared Data folder is a default folder that can be used to organize metadata that you want to be available to other users. Your site might or might not choose to save metadata to this folder.
My Folder is the private folder of the user who is currently logged on. It is similar to the My Documents folder in Microsoft Windows. Metadata in My Folder is visible only to the owning user and to unrestricted users, so this folder can be used to store metadata that you are not ready to make available to other users.

When you first begin adding metadata objects in SAS Data Integration Studio, these objects might be added to My Folder by default. To make these objects visible to other people who are connected to the same metadata server, you can use the Move to Folder option to move the metadata in an appropriate public folder in the Folders tree.

Users who are working under change management should not use My Folder. They should use the Checkouts tree and the change-managed folder instead. For more information, see Working with Change Management.

Add a Folder

Perform the following steps to add a custom folder without selecting a parent folder in the Folders tree.

From the desktop select NewFolder.
Enter a name for the folder. Verify that the folder path in the Location field is the path you want. To specify a different path in the Folders tree, click Browse and select the desired path.
Select OK to create the new folder.

Perform the following steps to add a sub-folder to a folder that you select in the Folders tree:

Right-click a folder in the Folders tree and select NewFolder. An untitled folder is added to the parent folder.
Type a new name for the folder.

Add Metadata Objects to a Folder

When you add a metadata object, it is added to a folder in the Folders tree and in the Inventory tree. You can specify the folder in the Folders where new metadata is added. To save a new metadata object to a specific folder in the Folders tree, right-click that folder, select New, and then select the appropriate wizard. Alternatively, if you select New from the menu bar, and then select the appropriate wizard, you can use the Browse control beside the Location field to change the folder path for the new object.

Copy to Folder

Perform the following steps to create a copy of a metadata object and save that copy to a different folder.

Right-click an object in the Folders tree and select Copy to Folder.
Select a target folder and click OK.

Drag to Folder

You can drag metadata objects from one folder to another folder within a top-level folder. This changes the folder path of the object. See Considerations When You Change a Folder Path.

You cannot drag an object from one top-level folder to another top-level folder. For example, you cannot drag an object from My Folder to the Shared Data folder. You can use the Move to Folder option to perform this task.

Move to Folder

Use the Move to Folder option to move a metadata object from one folder to another folder in the Folders, tree. This changes the folder path of the object. See Considerations When You Change a Folder Path.

Perform the following steps to move a metadata object to a different folder.

Right-click an object in the Folders tree and select Move to Folder.
Select a target folder and click OK.

Rename a Folder

You can rename a folder. This changes the folder path of the objects in the folder. See Considerations When You Change a Folder Path.

Perform the following steps to rename a folder.

Right-click the folder in the Folders tree and select Rename.
Enter a new name for the folder.

Considerations When You Change a Folder Path

Note: Use caution when renaming folders and when moving objects from one folder to another.

Any additions or changes to your custom folder structure, and any movement of objects from one folder to another, should be carefully planned. Some types of objects are referenced using folder pathnames. Associations to these types of objects can break if you move the object to a different folder. If you break an association based on a folder path, you can restore it by updating the folder path in the affected object.

For example, reports use folder paths to locate information maps. If you move an information map to a different folder, then you might need to edit associated reports to point to the new information map location. Other objects that depend on folder pathnames include information maps and prompts. For more information about managing folder pathnames, see the "Working with SAS Folders" chapter in the SAS Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide.