ASSIGN= Statement (Optional)

Generates SAS names and formats that are based on item names and data types.

Alias: AN=
Applies to: access descriptors only

Syntax

ASSIGN= YES | NO | Y | N;

Details

The ASSIGN= statement generates SAS variable names based on the first 8, non-blank characters of the item names and SAS variable attributes based on the item data types. You can change names and formats only in the access descriptor. The names saved in the access descriptor are the ones that will be used in the view descriptors.
The ASSIGN= statement causes view descriptors to inherit the SAS variable names and formats of the parent access descriptor at the time that the access descriptor is created. That is, if ASSIGN=YES (or Y), the variable names generated for the access descriptor are used in all derived view descriptors, regardless of the statements used in the view descriptor. If ASSIGN=NO (or N), you must specify the SAS variable names and formats when you create a view descriptor from this access descriptor. Use the RENAME, FORMAT, INFORMAT, LENGTH, BYKEY, and UNIQUE statements to change the variable names and attributes when creating a descriptor. The default is NO.
When a new CREATE statement is entered, the ASSIGN= statement is reset to NO.