A
DICTIONARY table is a read-only SAS view that contains information
about SAS libraries, SAS data sets, SAS macros, and external files
that are in use or available in the current SAS session. A DICTIONARY
table also contains the settings for SAS system options that are currently
in effect.
When you access a DICTIONARY
table, SAS determines the current state of the SAS session and returns
the desired information accordingly. This process is performed each
time a DICTIONARY table is accessed, so that you always have current
information.
DICTIONARY tables can
be accessed by a SAS program by using either of these methods:
-
run a PROC SQL query against the
table, using the DICTIONARY libref
-
use any SAS procedure or the DATA
step, referring to the PROC SQL view of the table in the SASHELP library
For more information
about DICTIONARY tables, including a list of available DICTIONARY
tables and their associated SASHELP views, see
SAS SQL Procedure User's Guide.