SAS Data Set Options

Data Set Options Documented in Other SAS Publications

In addition to data set options documented in SAS Language Reference: Dictionary, data set options are also documented in the following publications:

	SAS Companion for Windows
	SAS Companion for OpenVMS on HP Integrity Servers
	SAS Companion for UNIX Environments
	SAS Companion for z/OS
	SAS National Language Support: Reference Guide
	SAS Scalable Performance Data Engine: Reference
	SAS/ACCESS for Relational Databases: References

SAS Companion for Windows

Data Set Option	Description
SGIO=	Activates the Scatter/Gather I/O feature for a dataset.

SAS Companion for OpenVMS on HP Integrity Servers

The data set options listed here are documented only in SAS Companion for OpenVMS on HP Integrity Servers. Other data set options in SAS Companion for OpenVMS on HP Integrity Servers contain information specific to the OpenVMS operating environment, where the main documentation is in SAS Language Reference: Dictionary. These latter data set options are not listed here.

Data Set Option	Description
ALQ=	Specifies how many disk blocks to initially allocate to a new SAS data set.
ALQMULT=	Specifies the number of pages that are preallocated to a file.
BKS=	Specifies the bucket size for a new data set.
CACHENUM=	Specifies the number of I/O data caches used per SAS file.
CACHESIZE=	Controls the size of the I/O data cache that is allocated for a SAS file.
DEQ=	Specifies how many disk blocks to add when OpenVMS automatically extends a SAS data set during a write operation.
DEQMULT=	Specifies the number of pages to extend a SAS file.
LOCKREAD	Specifies whether to read a record if a lock cannot be obtained for the record.
LOCKWAIT	Indicates whether SAS should wait for a locked record.
MBF	Specifies the multibuffer count for a data set.

SAS Companion for UNIX Environments

The data set options listed here are documented only in SAS Companion for UNIX Environments. Other data set options in SAS Companion for UNIX Environments contain information specific to the UNIX operating environment, where the main documentation is in SAS Language Reference: Dictionary. These latter data set options are not listed here.

Data Set Option	Description
ALTER=	Specifies a password for a SAS file that prevents users from replacing or deleting the file, but permits read and write access.
BUFNO=	Specifies the number of buffers to be allocated for processing a SAS data set.
BUFSIZE=	Specifies the size of a permanent buffer page for an output SAS data set.
FILECLOSE=	Specifies how a tape is positioned when a SAS data set is closed.
PW=	Assigns a READ, WRITE, or ALTER password to a SAS file, and enables access to a password-protected SAS file.
USEDIRECTIO	Turns on direct I/O for a library that contains the file to which the ENABLEDIRECTIO option has been applied.

SAS Companion for z/OS

The data set options listed here are documented only in SAS Companion for z/OS. Other data set options in SAS Companion for z/OS contain information specific to the z/OS operating environment, where the main documentation is in SAS Language Reference: Dictionary. These latter data set options are not listed here.

Data Set Option	Description
ALTER=	Assigns an alter password to a SAS file and enables access to a password-protected SAS file.
BUFSIZE=	Specifies the permanent buffer page size for an output SAS data set.
FILEDISP=	Specifies the initial disposition for a sequential access bound SAS data library.

SAS National Language Support: Reference Guide

Data Set Option	Description
ENCODING=	Overrides the encoding to use for reading or writing a SAS data set.

SAS Scalable Performance Data Engine: Reference

Data Set Option	Description
ASYNCINDEX=	Specifies to create the indexes in parallel when creating multiple indexes on an SPD Engine data set.
BYNOEQUALS=	Specifies whether the output order of data set observations with identical values for the BY variable are guaranteed to be in data set order.
BYSORT=	Specifies for the SPD Engine to perform an automatic sort when it encounters a BY statement.
COMPRESS=	Specifies to compress SPD Engine data sets on disk as they are being created.
ENCRYPT=	Specifies whether to encrypt an output SPD Engine data set.
ENDOBS=	Specifies the end observation number in a user-defined range of observations to be processed.
IDXWHERE=	Specifies to use indexes when processing WHERE expressions in the SPD Engine.
IOBLOCKSIZE=	Specifies the number of observations in a block to be stored in or read from an SPD Engine data component file that is compressed.
LISTFILES=	Specifies whether the CONTENTS procedure lists the complete pathnames of all the component files.
PADCOMPRESS=	Specifies a number of bytes to add to compression blocks in a data set opened for UPDATE.
PARTSIZE=	When an SPD Engine data set is created, specifies the largest size (in megabytes) that the data component partitions can be. This is a fixed size. This specification applies only to the data component files.
STARTOBS=	Specifies the starting observation number in a user-defined range of observations to be processed.
SYNCADD=	Specifies to process one observation at a time or multiple observations at a time.
THREADNUM=	Specifies the number of I/O threads the SPD Engine can spawn for processing an SPD Engine data set.
UNIQUESAVE=	Specifies to save observations with non-unique key values (the rejected observations) to a separate data set when appending or inserting observations to data sets with unique indexes.
WHERENOINDEX=	Specifies, when making WHERE expression evaluations, a list of indexes to exclude.

SAS/ACCESS for Relational Databases: References

Data Set Option	Description
AUTHID=	Enables you to qualify the specified table with an authorization ID, user ID, or group ID.
AUTOCOMMIT=	Specifies whether to enable the DBMS autocommit capability.
BL_ALLOW_READ_ACCESS=	Specifies that the original table data is still visible to readers during bulk load.
BL_ALLOWWRITE_ACCESS=	Specifies that table data is still accessible to readers and writers while import is in progress.
BL_BADDATA_FILE=	Specifies where to put records that failed to process internally.
BL_BADFILE=	Identifies a file that contains records that were rejected during a bulk load.
BL_CODEPAGE=	Identifies the codepage that the DBMS engine uses to convert SAS character data to the current database codepage during a bulk load.
BL_CONTROL=	Identifies a file containing SQLLDR control statements that describe the data to be included in a bulk load.
BL_COPY_LOCATION=	Specifies the directory to which DB2 saves a copy of the loaded data. This option is valid only when used in conjunction with BL_RECOVERABLE=YES.
BL_CPU_PARALLELISM=	Specifies the number of processes or threads that are used when building table objects.
BL_DATA_BUFFER_SIZE=	Specifies the total amount of memory that is allocated for the bulk load utility to use as a buffer for transferring data.
BL_DATAFILE=	Identifies the file that contains the data that is loaded or appended into a DBMS table during a bulk load.
BL_DB2CURSOR=	Specifies a string that contains a valid DB2 SELECT statement that points to either local or remote objects (tables or views).
BL_DB2DEVT_PERM=	Specifies the unit address or generic device type that is used for the permanent data sets created by the LOAD utility, as well as SYSIN, SYSREC, and SYSPRINT when they are allocated by SAS.
BL_DB2DEVT_TEMP=	Specifies the unit address or generic device type that is used for the temporary data sets created by the LOAD utility (PNCH, COPY1, COPY2, RCPY1, RCPY2, WORK1, WORK2).
BL_DB2DISC=	Specifies the SYSDISC data set name for the LOAD utility.
BL_DB2ERR=	Specifies the SYSERR data set name for the LOAD utility.
BL_DB2IN=	Specifies the SYSIN data set name for the LOAD utility
BL_DB2LDCT1=	Specifies a string in the LOAD utility control statement, between LOAD DATA and INTO TABLE.
BL_DB2LDCT2=	Specifies a string in the LOAD utility control statement, between INTO TABLE table-name and (field-specification).
BL_DB2LDCT3=	Specifies a string in the LOAD utility control statement, after (field-specification)
BL_DB2LDEXT=	Specifies the mode of execution for the DB2 LOAD utility.
BL_DB2MAP=	Specifies the SYSMAP data set name for the LOAD utility.
BL_DB2PRINT=	Specifies the SYSPRINT data set name for the LOAD utility.
BL_DB2PRNLOG=	Determines whether the SYSPRINT output is written to the SAS log.
BL_DB2REC=	Specifies the SYSREC data set name for the LOAD utility
BL_DB2RECSP=	Determines the number of cylinders to specify as the primary allocation for the SYSREC data set when it is created.
BL_DB2RSTRT=	Tells the LOAD utility whether the current load is a restart and, for a restart, indicates where to begin.
BL_DB2SPC_PERM=	Determines the number of cylinders to specify as the primary allocation for the permanent data sets that are created by the LOAD utility.
BL_DB2SPC_TEMP=	Determines the number of cylinders to specify as the primary allocation for the temporary data sets that are created by the LOAD utility.
BL_DB2TBLXST=	Indicates whether the LOAD utility runs against an existing table
BL_DB2UTID=	Specifies a unique identifier for a given run of the DB2 LOAD utility.
BL_DELETE_DATAFILE=	Deletes the data file that is created for the DBMS bulk load facility.
BL_DELIMITER=	Specifies override of the default delimiter character for separating columns of data during data transfer or retrieval during bulk load or bulk unload.
BL_DIRECT_PATH=	Sets the Oracle SQL*Loader DIRECT option.
BL_DISCARDFILE=	Identifies the file that contains the records that were filtered out of a bulk load because they did not match the criteria specified in the CONTROL file.
BL_DISCARDS=	"Specifies whether and when to stop processing a job, based on the number of discarded records.
BL_DISK_PARALLELISM=	Specifies the number of processes or threads that are used when writing data to disk.
BL_ERRORS=	Specifies whether and when to stop processing a job based on the number of failed records.
BL_EXCEPTION=	Specifies the exception table into which rows in error are copied.
BL_FAILEDDATA=	Specifies where to put records that could not be written to the database.
BL_INDEX_OPTIONS=	Enables you to specify SQL*Loader Index options with bulk loading.
BL_INDEXING_MODE=	Used to indicate which scheme the DB2 load utility should use with respect to index maintenance.
BL_KEEPIDENTITY=	Determines whether the identity column that is created during a bulk load is populated with values generated by Microsoft SQL Server or with values provided by the user.
BL_KEEPNULLS=	Indicates how NULL values in Microsoft SQL Server columns that accept NULL are handled during a bulk load.
BL_LOAD_METHOD=	Specifies the method by which data is loaded into an Oracle table during bulk loading.
BL_LOAD_REPLACE=	Specifies whether DB2 appends or replaces rows during bulk loading
BL_LOG=	Identifies a log file that contains information such as statistics and error information for a bulk load.
BL_METHOD=	Specifies which bulk loading method to use for DB2.
BL_OPTIONS=	Passes options to the DBMS bulk load facility, affecting how it loads and processes data.
BL_PARFILE=	Creates a file that contains the SQL*Loader command line options.
BL_PORT_MAX=	Sets the highest available port number for concurrent uploads.
BL_PORT_MIN=	Sets the lowest available port number for concurrent uploads.
BL_PRESERVE_BLANKS=	Determines how the SQL*Loader handles requests to insert blank spaces into CHAR/VARCHAR2 columns with the NOT NULL constraint.
BL_RECOVERABLE=	Determines whether the LOAD process is recoverable.
BL_REMOTE_FILE=	Specifies the base filename and location of DB2 LOAD temporary files.
BL_RETRIES=	Specifies the number of attempts to make for a job.
BL_RETURN_WARNINGS_AS_ERRORS=	Specifies whether SQL*Loader (bulkload) warnings should surface in SAS through the SYSERR macro warnings or as errors.
BL_SERVER_DATAFILE=	Specifies the name and location of the data file as seen by the DB2 server instance.
BL_SQLLDR_PATH=	Specifies the location of the SQLLDR executable file.
BL_SUPPRESS_NULLIF=	Indicates whether to suppress the NULLIF clause for the specified columns when a table is created in order to increase performance.
BL_USE_PIPE=	Specifies a named pipe for data transfer.
BL_WARNING_COUNT=	Specifies the maximum number of row warnings to allow before you abort the load operation.
BUFFERS=	Specifies the number of shared memory buffers to be used for transferring data from SAS to Teradata.
BULK_BUFFER=	Specifies the number of bulk rows that the SAS/ACCESS engine can buffer for output.
BULKLOAD=	Loads rows of data as one unit.
BULKUNLOAD	Rapidly retrieves (fetches) large number of rows from a data set.
CAST=	Specifies whether data conversions should be performed on the Teradata DBMS server or by SAS.
CAST_OVERHEAD_MAXPERCENT=	Specifies the overhead limit for data conversions to be performed in Teradata instead of SAS.
COMMAND_TIMEOUT=	Specifies the number of seconds to wait before a command times out.
CURSOR_TYPE=	Specifies the cursor type for read only and updatable cursors.
DBCOMMIT=	Causes an automatic COMMIT (a permanent writing of data to the DBMS) after a specified number of rows have been processed.
DBCONDITION=	Specifies criteria for subsetting and ordering DBMS data.
DBCREATE_TABLE_OPTS=	Specifies DBMS-specific syntax to be added to the CREATE TABLE statement.
DBFORCE=	Specifies whether to force the truncation of data during insert processing.
DBGEN_NAME=	Specifies how SAS renames columns automatically when they contain characters that SAS does not allow.
DBINDEX=	Detects and verifies that indexes exist on a DBMS table. If they do exist and are of the correct type, a join query that is passed to the DBMS might improve performance.
DBKEY=	Specifies a key column to optimize DBMS retrieval. Can improve performance when you are processing a join that involves a large DBMS table and a small SAS data set or DBMS table.
DBLABEL=	Specifies whether to use SAS variable labels or SAS variable names as the DBMS column names during output processing.
DBLINK=	Specifies a link from your default database to another database on the server to which you are connected in the Sybase interface; and specifies a link from your local database to database objects on another server in the Oracle interface.
DBMASTER=	Designates which table is the larger table when you are processing a join that involves tables from two different types of databases.
DBMAX_TEXT=	Determines the length of any very long DBMS character data type that is read into SAS or written from SAS when you are using a SAS/ACCESS engine.
DBNULL=	Indicates whether NULL is a valid value for the specified columns when a table is created.
DBNULLKEYS=	Controls the format of the WHERE clause with regard to NULL values when you use the DBKEY= data set option.
DBPROMPT=	Specifies whether SAS displays a window that prompts you to enter DBMS connection information.
DBSASLABEL=	Specifies how the engine returns column labels.
DBSASTYPE=	Specifies data types to override the default SAS data types during input processing.
DBSLICE=	Specifies user-supplied WHERE clauses to partition a DBMS query for threaded reads.
DBSLICEPARM=	Controls the scope of DBMS threaded reads and the number of DBMS connections.
DBTYPE=	Specifies a data type to use instead of the default DBMS data type when SAS creates a DBMS table.
DEGREE=	Determines whether DB2 uses parallelism.
DISTRIBUTE_ON	Specifies a column name to use in the DISTRIBUTE ON clause of the CREATE TABLE statement.
ERRLIMIT=	Specifies the number of errors that are allowed before SAS stops processing and issues a rollback.
ESCAPE_BACKSLASH=	Specifies whether backslashes in literals are preserved during data copy from a SAS data set to a table.
IGNORE_ READ_ONLY_COLUMNS=	Specifies whether to ignore or include columns whose data types are read-only when generating an SQL statement for inserts or updates.
IN=	Enables you to specify the database or tablespace in which you want to create a new table.
INSERT_SQL=	Determines the method that is used to insert rows into a data source.
INSERTBUFF=	Specifies the number of rows in a single DBMS insert.
KEYSET_SIZE=	Specifies the number of rows in the cursor that are key set driven.
LOCATION=	Enables you to further specify exactly where a table resides.
LOCKTABLE=	Places exclusive or shared locks on tables.
MBUFFSIZE=	Specifies the size of the shared memory buffers to be used for transferring data from SAS to Teradata.
ML_CHECKPOINT=	Specifies the interval between checkpoint operation, in minutes.
ML_ERROR1=	Specifies the name of a temporary table that MultiLoad uses to track errors that were generated during the acquisition phase of a bulk-load operation.
ML_ERROR2=	Specifies the name of a temporary table that MultiLoad uses to track errors that were generated during the application phase of a bulk-load operation.
ML_LOG=	Specifies a prefix for the names of the temporary tables that MultiLoad uses during a bulk-load operation.
ML_RESTART=	Specifies the name of a temporary table that is used by MultiLoad to track checkpoint information.
ML_WORK=	Specifies the name of a temporary table that MultiLoad uses to store intermediate data.
MULTILOAD=	Specifies whether Teradata insert and append operations should use the Teradata MultiLoad utility.
MULTISTMT=	Specifies whether insert statements are to be sent to Teradata one at a time or in a group.
NULLCHAR=	Indicates how missing SAS character values are handled during insert, update, DBINDEX=, and DBKEY= processing.
NULLCHARVAL=	Defines the character string that replaces missing SAS character values during insert, update, DBINDEX=, and DBKEY= processing.
OR_PARTITION=	Allows reading, updating, and deleting from a particular partition in a partitioned table, also inserting and bulk-loading into a particular partition in a partitioned table.
OR_UPD_NOWHERE=	Specifies whether SAS uses an extra WHERE clause when updating rows with no lockingSpecifies whether SAS uses an extra WHERE clause when updating rows with no locking.
ORHINTS=	Specifies Oracle hints to pass to Oracle from a SAS statement or SQL procedure.
PRESERVE_COL_NAMES=	Preserves spaces, special characters, and case-sensitivity in DBMS column names when you create DBMS tables.
QUALIFIER=	Specifies the qualifier to use when you are reading database objects, such as DBMS tables and views.
QUERY_TIMEOUT=	Specifies the number of seconds of inactivity to wait before canceling a query.
READ_ISOLATION_LEVEL=	Specifies which level of read isolation locking to use when you are reading data.
READ_LOCK_TYPE=	Specifies how data in a DBMS table is locked during a read transaction.
READ_MODE_WAIT=	Specifies during SAS/ACCESS read operations whether Teradata waits to acquire a lock or fails your request when the DBMS resource is locked by a different user.
READBUFF=	Specifies the number of rows of DBMS data to read into the buffer.
SASDATEFMT=	Changes the SAS date format of a DBMS column.
SCHEMA=	Enables you to read a data source, such as a DBMS table and view, in the specified schema.
SEGMENT_NAME=	Enables you to control the segment in which you create a table.
SET=	Specifies whether duplicate rows are allowed when creating a table.
SLEEP=	Specifies the number of minutes that MultiLoad waits before it retries logging in to Teradata.
TENACITY=	Specifies how many hours MultiLoad continues to retry logging on to Teradata if the maximum number of Teradata utilities are already running.
TRAP151=	Enables columns that cannot be updated to be removed from a FOR UPDATE OF clause so updating of columns can proceed as normal.
UPDATE_ISOLATION_LEVEL=	Defines the degree of isolation of the current application process from other concurrently running application processes.
UPDATE_LOCK_TYPE=	Specifies how data in a DBMS table is locked during an update transaction.
UPDATE_MODE_WAIT=	Specifies during SAS/ACCESS update operations whether the DBMS waits to acquire a lock or fails your request when the DBMS resource is locked by a different user.
UPDATE_SQL=	Determines the method that is used to update and delete rows in a data source.
UPDATEBUFF=	Specifies the number of rows that are processed in a single DBMS update or delete operation.

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