The SQL Procedure

DESCRIBE Statement

Displays a PROC SQL definition in the SAS log.

Restriction:	PROC SQL views are the only type of view allowed in a DESCRIBE VIEW statement.
Featured in:	Reporting from DICTIONARY Tables

DESCRIBE TABLE table-name <, ... table-name>;

DESCRIBE VIEW proc-sql-view <, ... proc-sql-view>;

DESCRIBE TABLE CONSTRAINTS table-name <, ... table-name>;

table-name: specifies a PROC SQL table. table-name can be a one-level name, a two-level libref.table name, or a physical pathname that is enclosed in single quotation marks.
proc-sql-view: specifies a PROC SQL view. proc-sql-view can be a one-level name, a two-level libref.view name, or a physical pathname that is enclosed in single quotation marks.

The DESCRIBE TABLE statement writes a CREATE TABLE statement to the SAS log for the table specified in the DESCRIBE TABLE statement, regardless of how the table was originally created (for example, with a DATA step). If applicable, SAS data set options are included with the table definition. If indexes are defined on columns in the table, then CREATE INDEX statements for those indexes are also written to the SAS log.

When you are transferring a table to a DBMS that SAS/ACCESS software supports, it is helpful to know how it is defined. To find out more information about a table, use the FEEDBACK option or the CONTENTS statement in the DATASETS procedure.
The DESCRIBE VIEW statement writes a view definition to the SAS log. If you use a PROC SQL view in the DESCRIBE VIEW statement that is based on or derived from another view, then you might want to use the FEEDBACK option in the PROC SQL statement. This option displays in the SAS log how the underlying view is defined and expands any expressions that are used in this view definition. The CONTENTS statement in DATASETS procedure can also be used with a view to find out more information.
The DESCRIBE TABLE CONSTRAINTS statement lists the integrity constraints that are defined for the specified table or tables. However, names of the foreign key data set variables that reference the primary key constraint will not be displayed as part of the primary key constraint's DESCRIBE TABLE output.