Processing an RRDS in a SAS Job

Introduction to Processing an RRDS

A Relative-Record Data Set (RRDS) is a string of fixed-length slots, each identified by a relative-record number. Each slot either contains a record or is empty. Records are stored and retrieved by the relative-record number of the slot. An RRDS is appropriate for many applications that use fixed-length records or when the record number has a contextual meaning that can be used as a key.

You can read, add, update, and erase RRDS records in SAS programs. In many cases, the option's meaning depends on how it is used within a SAS program. (Loading RRDS records is discussed separately in Defining and Loading a VSAM Data Set.)

Here are two helpful tables and their descriptions:

SAS Options for an RRDS lists the options that are significant for processing RRDS records.
Access Types for RRDS Operations summarizes the access types for RRDS operations.

In addition, there are examples of reading, adding, updating, and performing combined operations on an RRDS data set. The examples are based on the STUDENT data set that is described in Sample STUDENT Data Set. You can run the examples by using the sample programs that are provided in the Help system and by following the steps to define and load an RRDS that are described in Defining and Loading a VSAM Data Set.

For information on using an ESDS in SAS jobs, see Processing an ESDS in a SAS Job. For information on using a KSDS in SAS jobs, see Processing a KSDS in a SAS Job.

Top of Page