SAS Data Set Options

TYPE= Data Set Option

Specifies the data set type for a specially structured SAS data set.

Valid in:	DATA step and PROC steps
Category:	Data Set Control

Syntax
Syntax Description
Details
See Also

Syntax

TYPE=data-set-type

Syntax Description

data-set-type: specifies the special type of the data set.

Details

Use the TYPE= data set option in a DATA step to create a special SAS data set in the proper format, or to identify the special type of the SAS data set in a procedure statement.

You can use the CONTENTS procedure to determine the type of a 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, or FACTOR.

Other 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. [cautionend]

	Special SAS Data Sets in the SAS/STAT User's Guide
	The CONTENTS Procedure in the Base SAS Procedures Guide