Converting Version 6 SAS/EIS Metabases

Before you can use an existing Version 6 SAS/EIS metabase registration, you must convert it to the Version 8 Common Metadata Repository format. You must convert all metabases in a single path into a single repository. For example, if you have two legacy metabases, each with five registrations, then after the conversion you will have ten registrations in a single repository.

If you have duplicate registrations in multiple Version 6 metabases within the same path, then the conversion process changes the name of the second registration to this format: <Version-6-metabase-name>.<registration-name>. The label does not change, so it is possible that the same label will be listed more than once. Thus, to avoid duplicate registration labels within a repository, it is recommended that you change the label of any duplicate registrations within a repository. To change the registration label, you can either edit the registration's LABEL attribute or select View   Rename in the Metabase window. You do not have to modify SAS/EIS applications that reference the Version 6 registrations. The old registration names are automatically mapped to the new names.

For example, suppose you have two Version 6 metabases, SASUSER.META_A and SASUSER.META_B. Each metabase contains a single table registration with a registration name of SASUSER.CLASS and a registration label of Student Information. When the SASUSER.META_A and SASUSER.META_B metabases are converted, the result is a single repository, SASUSER, that contains the following two registrations:

  Registration name: SASUSER.CLASS 
  Registration label: 'Student information' 

and

  Registration name: SASUSER.META_B.SASUSER.CLASS 
  Registration label: 'Student information' 

To convert a Version 6 SAS/EIS metabase or metabases, follow these steps:

1. Convert all user-defined attribute dictionaries before you convert any metabases. For information about converting user-defined attribute dictionaries, see the SAS/EIS Help.

2. Make sure that all librefs are assigned for the table registrations. This ensures that the library information is correct for the conversion.

3. Convert existing tables and catalogs to the Version 8 format. For information about converting tables and catalogs, see the SAS/EIS Help.

4. Type metabase on the command line to open the Metabase window. For information about using the Metabase window, see the SAS/EIS Help.

5. In the Metabase window, select Edit   Convert to open the Convert Metabases window. For information about using the Convert Metabases window, see the SAS/EIS Help.

6. Select the metabase or metabases that you want to convert, and then select OK. All of the metabases that you selected are converted.

Note: If you try to access a legacy metabase registration, then you will be prompted to convert it.