topic Re: Proc Contents Vs Proc Datasets in SAS Programming

Proc Contents Vs Proc Datasets

arunvaibhav — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 06:11:08 GMT

Hello All,

I'm trying to understand the basic difference between PROC CONTENTS and PROC DATASETS, but have no clear idea.

Can any one please explain the basic difference between these along with some examples?

Appreciate your effort.

Thanks.

Re: Proc Contents Vs Proc Datasets

Reeza — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 07:44:13 GMT

Proc contents is a subset of proc datasets, but PROC datasets can do more than proc contents, for example modify variable labels or formats. Proc contents can read sequential files, PROC datasets, contents statement cannot.

Re: Proc Contents Vs Proc Datasets

arunvaibhav — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 08:22:19 GMT

I'm sorry. Can you please provide some more details?

Thanks for the quick response.

What is a sequential file in this context? Why PROC DATASETS cannot read it?

Thanks!

Re: Proc Contents Vs Proc Datasets

RW9 — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 09:33:18 GMT

Yes, this is exactly what the Manual is for:

Proc contents:

https://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/hostwin/63047/HTML/default/viewer.htm#p02vdgvofvi65sn12xzz2c0qwvc6.htm

Proc datasets:

http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/hostwin/63047/HTML/default/viewer.htm#n0yyy9zscyifkln1i8tl75d63a1l.htm

Contents lists the dataset metadata (structure). Datasets does a lot more on top of that.