An incorrect query might be passed to the database, which results in the query taking longer to execute. This issue can occur when all of the following are true:

• A view is created in which the query includes a GROUP BY clause and a variable that appeared on the GROUP BY clause is also renamed in the SELECT clause.
• The query joins that view with either another table in the database or a view that references a table in the database.

In this scenario, instead of passing the original variable name in the GROUP BY clause, SAS passes the renamed name. This behavior results in an error with wording that varies depending on the database and can include the following phrases:

• does not exist
• is not valid in the context where it is used
• invalid identifier

The error occurs because the database expects the original variable name in the GROUP BY clause. You see the error when you set the SASTRACE= option. SAS, rather than failing, changes the query that it submits to the database to a valid query. This behavior can result in more of the processing occurring in SAS and slower performance than if the database had processed the entire query.

The only workaround is to not rename the variable in the view and rename it in the second query.  

Click the Hot Fix tab in this note to access the hot fix for this issue.

Operating System and Release Information

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.4_M7 is available at:

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.4_M6 is available at:

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.4_M5 is available at: