TYPE= Data Set Option

Specifies the data set type for a specially structured data set.

Valid in: DATA and PROC steps
Category: Data Set Control
Supports: SAS data set

Syntax

Syntax Description

data-set-type

specifies the special type of the data set.

Details

Use the TYPE= data set option in a DATA step to create a special data set in the proper format. In a procedure statement, use the option to identify the special type of the data set.
You can use the CONTENTS procedure to determine the type of a data set.
Most data sets do not have a specified type. However, there are several specially structured SAS data sets that are used by some SAS/STAT procedures. These data sets contain special columns and rows, and they are usually created by SAS statistical procedures. Because most of the special data sets are used with SAS/STAT software, they are described in SAS/STAT User’s Guide.
Other values are available in other SAS software products and are described in the appropriate documentation.
Note: If you use a DATA step with a SET statement to modify a special SAS data set, you must specify the TYPE= option in the DATA statement. The data-set-type is not automatically copied to the data set that is created.