System Options under UNIX

SORTPGM System Option: UNIX

Specifies whether SAS sorts using the SAS sort utility or the host sort utility.

Default:	BEST
Valid in:	configuration file, SAS invocation, OPTIONS statement, SASV9_OPTIONS environment variable
Category:	Sort: Procedure options
PROC OPTIONS GROUP=	SORT
UNIX specifics:	all

Syntax

-SORTPGM SAS | HOST | BEST

SORTPGM=SAS | HOST | BEST

SAS: tells SAS to use the SAS sort.
HOST: tells SAS to use the sort that is specified by the SORTNAME system option.
BEST: tells SAS to determine the best routine to sort the data set: the SAS sort or the host sort that is specified by the SORTNAME system option. The settings of the SORTCUT and SORTCUTP system options determine whether SAS chooses the SAS sort or the host sort.

The SORTPGM system option tells SAS whether to use the SAS sort, to use the host sort, or to determine which sort is best for the data set.