topic Re: proc datasets content statement and default memtype in SAS Programming

proc datasets content statement and default memtype

xxformat_com — Sun, 08 May 2022 17:00:21 GMT

Hi,

The SAS Online Documentation suggests that memtype=data in the contents statement of proc datasets.

But when I'm testing with a vew, it seems that memtype=all by default. Did I miss something?

https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.5/proc/p1v2467vdjbp7xn1222c7t3sejz3.htm

data vclass / view=vclass;
    set sashelp.class;
run;

title 'proc contents';
proc contents data   =vclass 
              memtype=view; *memtype=data by default;
run;

title 'proc datasets';
proc datasets lib=work memtype=cat nolist;
    contents data=vclass;* memtype=all by default; 
    run;
quit;

Re: proc datasets content statement and default memtype

Sajid01 — Mon, 09 May 2022 00:43:06 GMT

Hello
Both memtype=view and memtype=all work.
Test with the followig sample code.

data classv / view = classv ;
set sashelp.class;
run;
proc datasets lib=work memtype=view nolist;
    contents data=classv;* memtype=all by default; 
    run;
quit;
proc datasets lib=work memtype=all nolist;
    contents data=classv;; 
    run;
quit;

Re: proc datasets content statement and default memtype

xxformat_com — Mon, 09 May 2022 07:53:46 GMT

My issue is not to be unable to use views.

My issue is the discrepancy
between the online documentation (memtype is said to be data by default)
and what is actually happening (memtype is all - both view and data to be precise - by default)
when using the contents statement of proc datasets.

Re: proc datasets content statement and default memtype

Sajid01 — Mon, 09 May 2022 11:45:12 GMT

Hello @xxformat_com
I don't see any descripancy in the documentation and practice.

But when I'm testing with a vew, it seems that memtype=all by default. Did I miss something?

Well when using Contents with Proc datasets one is normally expected to mention the memtype. However it is not necessary.If we do not use the memtype= option in the Proc datasets statement, it takes the value as all (the default value ) and itereates through the all applicable (view and data for contents in addition to all) and generates the result.

Default option is essentially the option the procedure takes when nothing is mentioned.