topic Re: locking a SAS dataset in SAS Programming

locking a SAS dataset

BenConner — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:09:16 GMT

Hi,

I need to serialize update access to a SAS dataset across a series of concurrent jobs. Each one only requires exclusive access for a few seconds but Murphy arranged for two to need it at the same time this morning. One failed.

I thought the lock statement might work but there isn't a wait option for it. So I hoped there was a lock function but couldn't find one. That would be handy in a data step.

So how has this been done in the past?

Thanks!

--Ben

Re: locking a SAS dataset

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:54:52 GMT

You can code a loop for the LOCK statement that continues with WAITing steps in between until it gets a zero return code in macro variable SYSLCKRC.

Re: locking a SAS dataset

BenConner — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 14:38:57 GMT

Thanks, Kurt. That could work. Will work out the details. If push comes to shove I can always use a semaphore file. Was just trying to avoid that.

--Ben