topic Re: How to retrieve properties of datasets in SAS Enterprise Guide

How to retrieve properties of datasets

Sandyliu — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 09:37:04 GMT

Hi all !

To classify data sets in all the libraries are in use or not,

I'm finding a way to retrieve information of data sets, such as created date, last modified date,last user etc.

I found some related information is displayed in properties of data sets(refer to attached file),

and how can I export that information into a data set?

Re: How to retrieve properties of datasets

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:16:04 GMT

This information is internal to the Enterprise Guide project, and cannot be made visible to the SAS workspace server.

Most (if not all) of the other information is available through dictionary.tables and dictionary.columns in proc sql.

Re: How to retrieve properties of datasets

FredrikE — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:25:28 GMT

Hi!

The procedutre "proc contents" with the option "out=" writes properties to a data set, will that help you?

//Fredrik

Re: How to retrieve properties of datasets

Sandyliu — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:42:06 GMT

Thanks @Kurt_Bremser !

May I understand it like that the information in dictionary.tables and dictionary.columns is all the visible property data of data sets to the sas workspace server?

Re: How to retrieve properties of datasets

Sandyliu — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:59:50 GMT

Thanks @FredrikE !

It's a simple way to export properties of data sets.(I think it is the same data as those in dictionary.tables and dictionary.columns)

However, I'm afraid that those data are not enough to help me tell which data set is in use or not.

Re: How to retrieve properties of datasets

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:28:47 GMT

@Sandyliu wrote:

Thanks @Kurt_Bremser !

May I understand it like that the information in dictionary.tables and dictionary.columns is all the visible property data of data sets to the sas workspace server?

One can retrieve additional properties (eg last accessed) by using external commands, if XCMD is enabled.

And proc contents does show additional things in the output (when run on UNIX), like file owner, permissions and inode number.

Re: How to retrieve properties of datasets

FredrikE — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 14:17:42 GMT

What do you mean with "in use".

In unix you can use the function FUSER on a sasbdat-file to see if it is locked, if that is what you want...:)

//Fredrik