Data Set Options under z/OS

ALTER= Data Set Option: z/OS

Specifies a password for a SAS file that prevents users from replacing or deleting the file, but permits read and write access.

Valid in:	DATA step and PROC steps
Category:	Data Set Control
See:	ALTER= Data Set Option in SAS Language Reference: Dictionary
z/OS specifics:	all

Syntax
Syntax Description
Details
See Also

Syntax

ALTER=alter-password

Syntax Description

alter-password: must be a valid SAS name. See Rules for Words and Names in the SAS Language in SAS Language Reference: Concepts.

Details

The ALTER= option applies to all types of SAS files except catalogs. You can use this option to assign an alter-password to a SAS file or to access a read-protected, write-protected, or alter-protected SAS file. When replacing a SAS data set that is alter protected, the new file inherits the alter password. To change the alter password for the new file, use the MODIFY statement in the DATASETS procedure.

The ALTER password is not honored for UFS libraries processed via the TAPE engine. Moreover, the ALTER password cannot be used to prevent members of a sequential access bound library from being deleted if those members follow a member that is being replaced. For complete details, see General Usage Notes.

Note: A SAS password does not control access to a SAS file or a SAS library beyond SAS. You should use the operating environment-supplied utilities and file-system security controls in order to control access to SAS files outside of SAS. [cautionend]