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 more information, 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.