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Updates for SAS 9.2 (March 2008)
See the compatibility calculator to determine whether you need to migrate your libraries to SAS 9.2. Use the PROC MIGRATE calculator to find the right example code for your migration.
Get a Smarter COMPARE
Validation tools for the MIGRATE procedure now work with CEDA and provide additional details about catalogs, indexes, and integrity constraints.
Start Planning
See Getting Started for the most efficient pathway through all of the SAS®9 migration documentation.
Coexistence
Many SAS®9 products can install side-by-side with SAS 8.2 with very good compatibility. See Peaceful Coexistence: SAS®9 and SAS 8.2 for details.
Sample Validation SOP
See an example SOP: SAS Installation Qualification / Operational Qualification (PDF) (updated 19 May 2008) for the pharmaceutical industry.

Migration

SAS®9 Processing of Version 6 Files via the V6 Engine

If you do not migrate Version 6 files to SAS®9 format, the V6 compatibility engine can automatically process some native and foreign files. This topic describes the supported processing. If these details seem overwhelming and you need a quick answer, then try the easy, interactive Compatibility Calculator instead.

Processing Native Files

As noted at the main compatibility topic, the V6 engine provides the following processing for native Version 6 files. First, read the Version 6 section in Are My Files Foreign in SAS®9? to determine whether your files are native or foreign.

SAS data file supports input, update, and output.
DATA step view and PROC SQL view support input.
SAS/ACCESS view supports input and update.
SAS catalog supports input.
Stored compiled DATA step program supports input.
MDDB file supports input.
The DELETE statement is supported with PROC DATASETS in SAS 9.2.

Processing Foreign Files

The V6 compatibility engine provides the following processing for foreign Version 6 files. First, read the Version 6 section in Are My Files Foreign in SAS®9? to determine whether your files are native or foreign.

SAS data file supports input (read-only).
No SAS views, catalogs, compiled programs, or MDDBs are supported.
Indexes are not supported.
The DELETE statement is supported with PROC DATASETS in SAS 9.2.

(Generally, a SAS 6 file is foreign in SAS 9 because you upgraded to 64-bit architecture, but you stayed in the same operating environment family.)

Using the V6 Engine

If you do not specify the V6 engine name, SAS identifies that a library is in Version 6 format and automatically assigns the V6 engine.

For example, in a SAS®9 session, if you issue the following LIBNAME statement to assign a libref to a SAS data library containing only Version 6 files, SAS automatically assigns the V6 engine:

   libname myfiles 'v6-SAS-data-library';

However, it is suggested that you specify the V6 engine name:

   libname myfiles v6 'v6-SAS-data-library';

Note: The V6 engine processes Version 6 files created by Release 6.08 through Release 6.12. For Version 6 files prior to Release 6.08, see the SAS documentation for your operating environment.

Creating Version 6 Native Files in SAS®9

You might need to create (output) a Version 6 file in a SAS®9 session, for example, if you are sharing data with a Version 6 application. To do so, see the information about using a SAS®9 file in Version 6, and methods for regressing a file to Version 6. Keep in mind that the Version 6 file must adhere to Version 6 capabilities, that is, no long names, no integrity constraints, and so on.