What Can I Do with the SAS Open Metadata Interface?

The SAS Open Metadata Interface enables clients to read and write the metadata of applications that comply with the metadata architecture. It also supports the development of clients to maintain repositories and to control the SAS Metadata Server, but these tasks are secondary. Mostly, clients use the SAS Open Metadata Interface to read or write the metadata of applications. For example, a client might use the SAS Open Metadata Interface to perform the following tasks:
  • Store LIBNAME information that is needed to access data stores so that the information is available centrally and can be maintained independently of the client.
  • Store details about data sources, such as SAS and database table and column names, formats, data types, and information about responsible parties, so that the information can be centrally searched and used to locate tables that meet specified criteria.
  • Return a list of available SAS application servers and use their definitions to maintain their configuration and manage the servers. For example, the definitions could be used to start, stop, pause, and resume the servers.
  • Define access controls on resources and request authorization decisions from the SAS Open Metadata Architecture authorization facility.