Use the TYPE= data set
option in a DATA step to perform these tasks:
-
to create a special SAS data set
in the proper format
-
to identify the special type of
SAS data set in a procedure statement
You can use the CONTENTS
procedure to determine the type of data set.
Most SAS data sets do
not have a specified type. However, there are several specially structured
SAS data sets that are used by some SAS/STAT procedures. These SAS
data sets contain special variables and observations, and they are
usually created by SAS statistical procedures. Because most of the
special SAS data sets are used with SAS/STAT software, they are described
in the SAS/STAT User's Guide. Some of
the special data sets are CORR, COV, SSPC, EST, and FACTOR.
Additional values are
available in other SAS software products and are described in the
appropriate documentation.
Note: If you use a DATA step with
a SET statement to modify a special SAS data set, you must specify
the TYPE= option in the DATA statement. The data-set-type is
not automatically copied to the data set that is created.