SAS and SPD Server Tables

Overview of SPD Server Tables

SPD Server tables have different physical structures than SAS tables. In a general discussion, a SAS table can also refer to an SPD Server table. If the context is specific (for example, an SPD Server command), then the reference is specific. A SAS table refers to the Base SAS format. An SPD Server table refers to the SPD Server format.
Using SPD Server and SAS together, you can:
  • Convert tables from the Base SAS format to the SPD Server format.
  • Convert tables from the SPD Server format to the Base SAS format.
  • Create a new SPD Server table.
  • Read, query, append to, update, sort, and index SPD Server tables.

SAS Libraries

The term SAS library refers to a collection of SAS files or a collection of SPD Server files. For SPD Server, a SAS library or data library is a collection of one or more directories that specifies the location of stored SPD Server files. A data library has a primary file system. This is the directory an SPD Server administrator defines for the LIBNAME domain when it is set up. In addition, a SAS library can have other directories for separating SPD Server component files.
An SPD Server data library can contain the following LIBNAME domain files:
  • SPD Server tables
  • SPD Server indexes
  • SPD Server catalogs
  • SPD Server ACL files
  • SPD Server utility files, such as a VIEW, an MDDB, and so on

Temporary LIBNAME Domains

SPD Server enables you to create temporary LIBNAME domains that exist only for the duration of the LIBNAME assignment. Using this capability, SPD Server users can create space analogous to the SAS Work library. To create a temporary LIBNAME domain, use the SPD Server LIBNAME statement option, TEMP=YES.
When you end your SPD Server session, all of the data objects, including tables, catalogs, and utility files in the TEMP=YES temporary domain, are automatically deleted. This is similar to how the SAS Work library functions.