topic List datasets, variables, variable types and library name in SAS Procedures

List datasets, variables, variable types and library name

Haydn — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 00:52:09 GMT

Hello,

I'm looking to list all datasets in a library, variables and variable types along with the library name.

I've found this on this forum located here:https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Procedures/PROC-CONTENTS-of-entire-library-with-all-variables-detail/td-p/19240

Can someone please assist?

/* Note that value of libname is UPPERCASE */
proc sql;
create table columns as
select name as variable
,memname as table_name
from dictionary.columns
where libname = 'WORK'
;
quit;

Re: List datasets, variables, variable types and library name

ghosh — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 01:20:34 GMT

* Change SASHELP with the library name;

PROC CONTENTS DATA=SASHELP._ALL_ ; RUN;

Re: List datasets, variables, variable types and library name

heffo — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 03:44:46 GMT

It all depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to do some coding then the proc sql is better. I'm doing an automatic metadata documentation of all the libraries, tables, variables and formats by a combination of queries to the dictionary tables. But if you only need to view them on off, then the proc datasets is perfect.

proc sql;
	create table columns as
	select libname,	memname, name, type, length, varnum
	from dictionary.columns
	where libname = upcase('WORK') ;
quit;

Re: List datasets, variables, variable types and library name

Haydn — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 23:26:39 GMT

Hi everyone, is there a way using either of the methods above or a macro, where I could specify the files I want, without getting all of them?

Re: List datasets, variables, variable types and library name

heffo — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 23:37:14 GMT

%macro printContents();

	proc sql noprint;
		*Get all the libraries that you want;
	  	select cats(libname,".",memname) into : ds separated by " " 
		from dictionary.tables
		where libname = upcase('SASHELP') and upcase(memname) in ("CLASS" "BASEBALL");
	quit;

	*Get the number of tables to loop.;
	%let no_of_tables=%sysfunc(countw(&ds," "));

	*Loop the list;
	%do _i = 1 %to &no_of_tables;
		%let ds_name=%scan(&ds,&_i, %str( ));
		PROC CONTENTS DATA=&ds_name; 
		RUN; 
	%end;
%mend printContents;

%printContents();

Maybe this?

Re: List datasets, variables, variable types and library name

Haydn — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 23:52:43 GMT

Thanks heffo, it did the trick.