Copy All table names from EG to another document

[bjlav90]

Hi All,

I've just started learning SAS and im using EG. I was wondering is there a way of copying all of the table names in a SAS library and pasting it into another platform (excel, word, notepad etc.). Very primitive question I know but I'm looking to create a document that details what is in each table and why I would use it. It would be a lot easier if i could copy all the names at once rather than right them manually.

Apologies if this is posted on the incorrect board.

Many Thanks,

Barry

[RW9 · Accepted solution]

proc print data=sashelp.vtable;
  where libname="YOURLIB";
  var memname;
run;

The above will print to the output window all the tables names which you can then copy to whichever output. This is probably the easiest.

[Kurt_Bremser]

proc sql;
select memname from dictionary.tables
where libname = "YOURLIB" ;
quit;

You can copy/paste the result.

Or you use "create table as" in the SQL and export the resulting dataset.

[ballardw]

And for the possibly confused new SAS user looking at @Kurt_Bremser's and @RW9's solutions:

SASHELP.VTABLE is a data view and the Dictionary.tables is a special reference Proc SQL can use to look at that data view. It is the same thing, just referenced in two different manners.

And another option:

proc datasets library=yourlib memtype=data;

quit;

Or use ODS to send the output to desired file:

ods rtf file="drive:\path\datasets.rtf";

proc datasets library=yourlib memtype=data;

quit;

ods close;

to send the results to a word processing document at the drive and path you specify.

[Kurt_Bremser]

Actually, dictionary.tables is a virtual table created at runtime (by proc sql reading the files!) that is available only in proc sql. sashelp.vtable is a SQL view of this table.

Using dictionary.tables instead of sashelp.vtable can improve performance when you have a lot of libraries assigned with lots of datasets/views in them, as using it directly enables SQL to do a better optimization of the where condition. At least in my experience.

[Kurt_Bremser]

I moved the thread to the Enterprise Guide community.

[bjlav90]

Many thanks both, I believe both answers were great solutions.