Component Objects

The DATA Step Component Interface

The DATA step component object interface enables you to create and manipulate predefined component objects in a DATA step.

To declare and create a component object, you use either the DECLARE statement by itself or the DECLARE statement and _NEW_ operator together.

Component objects are data elements that consist of attributes, methods, and operators. Attributes are the properties that specify the information that is associated with an object. Methods define the operations that an object can perform. For component objects, operators provide special functionality.

You use the DATA step object dot notation to access the component object's attributes and methods.

Note: The DATA step component object statements, attributes, methods, and operators are limited to those defined for these objects. You cannot use the SAS Component Language functionality with these predefined DATA step objects. [cautionend]

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