SAS/ACCESS
lets you create a SAS view of data that exists in a relational database
management system. A
SAS data view defines
a virtual data set that is named and stored for later use. A view
contains no data, but rather describes data that is stored elsewhere.
Here are the types of SAS data views.
stored, compiled DATA
step programs.
are stored query expressions
that read data values from their underlying files, which can include
SAS data files, SAS/ACCESS views, DATA step views, other SQL views,
or relational database data.
SAS/ACCESS views (also called view descriptors)
describe data that
is stored in DBMS tables. This is no longer a recommended method for
accessing relational DBMS data.
To convert existing
view descriptors into SQL views, use the CV2View procedure.
You can use all types
of views as inputs into DATA steps and procedures. You can specify
views in queries as if they were tables. A view derives its data from
the tables or views that are listed in its FROM clause. The data accessed
by a view is a subset or superset of the data in its underlying table(s)
or view(s).
You can use SQL views
and
SAS/ACCESS views to update their underlying data if the view is
based on only one DBMS table or if it is based on a DBMS view that
is based on only one DBMS table and if the view has no calculated
fields. You cannot use DATA step views to update the underlying data;
you can use them only to read the data.
Your options for creating a SAS view of DBMS data are
determined by the
SAS/ACCESS feature that you are using to access
the DBMS data. This table lists the recommended methods for creating
SAS views.
Creating SAS Views
Feature for Accessing
DBMS Data
|
SAS View Technology
to Use
|
SAS/ACCESS LIBNAME statement
|
SQL view or DATA step
view of the DBMS table
|
SQL pass-through facility
|
SQL view with CONNECTION
TO component
|