DATA step component
objects are deleted automatically at the end of the DATA step. If
you want to reuse the object reference variable in another hash or
hash iterator object constructor, you should delete the hash or hash
iterator object by using the DELETE method.
If you attempt to use
a hash or hash iterator object after you delete it, you will receive
an error in the log.
If you want to delete
all the items from within a hash object and save the hash object to
use again, use the
CLEAR Method.