topic Re: SAS_PROC SQL_Temporary files in SAS Programming

SAS_PROC SQL_Temporary files

Khaladdin — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 17:36:39 GMT

Hi all,

I need to use PROC.SQL statements for my analysis. The problem is, SAS uses C disk in order to create temporary files when I use SQL statements. My datasets are very large and I do not have enough space for that. Could you please explain me how to allocate this temporary file in other place rather than C disk?

Re: SAS_PROC SQL_Temporary files

Kurt_Bremser — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 18:03:28 GMT

Use the -utilloc option, either in a config file or on the SAS commandline.

Re: SAS_PROC SQL_Temporary files

Khaladdin — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 18:05:03 GMT

how to use it?

Re: SAS_PROC SQL_Temporary files

Kurt_Bremser — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 20:26:21 GMT

@Khaladdin wrote:
how to use it?

I alreaady told you that. Which config file or shell script (commandline) depends on your SAS setup.

Re: SAS_PROC SQL_Temporary files

Reeza — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 20:47:33 GMT

The C drive is used when you're either

1. Accessing a DBMS but using functions that are not supported on the DBMS

2. Using data both in SAS and on the server - the data is then brought down the server to be processed.

3. All your data is local.

Identify which situation you're in first.

If #3, there aren't any workarounds.

If its 1/2 you can modify your query so that it's processed on the server instead.

Re: SAS_PROC SQL_Temporary files

SASKiwi — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 23:58:25 GMT

One workaround is to compress your SAS datasets at the expense of slowing your programs down a bit. Put this at the start of your program. If you are lucky it might give you enough space to complete your job successfully. At the end of the day you may still need to put another hard drive in your PC. Warning - don't write SAS temporary files to a network drive unless you want your programs to run forever and seriously annoy IT administrators.

options compress = binary;

Re: SAS_PROC SQL_Temporary files

Khaladdin — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 08:11:30 GMT

I followed that link and it worked:

http://stats.idre.ucla.edu/sas/icu/customizing-sas-8-2/

Re: SAS_PROC SQL_Temporary files

Reeza — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 19:40:33 GMT

Note that the solution you've linked to is a permanent change for where your WORK directory is stored. If that post answered your question, please mark it as the solution.