PW= Data Set Option

Assigns a READ, WRITE, and ALTER password to a SAS file, and enables access to a password-protected SAS file.

Valid in: DATA step and PROC steps
Category: Data Set Control
Note: Check your log after this operation to ensure password security. For more information, see Blotting Passwords and Encryption Key Values in SAS Language Reference: Concepts.
Syntax
Syntax Description
Details
See Also

Syntax

PW=password

Syntax Description

password

must be a valid SAS name, which limits the password to eight characters and is case-insensitive. See Words in the SAS Language in SAS Language Reference: Concepts.

Details

The PW= option applies to all types of SAS files except catalogs. Use this option to assign a password to a SAS file or to access a password-protected SAS file.
When you replace a SAS data set that is protected by an ALTER password, the new data set inherits the ALTER password. To change the ALTER password for the new data set, use the MODIFY statement in the DATASETS procedure.
Operating Environment Information: For more information about using passwords, see the appropriate sections of the SAS documentation.
Note: A SAS password does not control access to a SAS file beyond the SAS system. Use the operating system-supplied utilities and file-system security controls to control access to SAS files outside of SAS.

See Also

File Protection in SAS Language Reference: Concepts
Manipulating Passwords in Base SAS Procedures Guide
Data Set Options:
ALTER= Data Set Option
ENCRYPT= Data Set Option
READ= Data Set Option
WRITE= Data Set Option
Copyright © SAS Institute Inc. All Rights Reserved.