dictionary.extfiles column exists

[Ron_MacroMaven]

I am sure I know enough sql to be dangerous.

Can anyone offer an explanation as to why I cannot reorder the variables in the the sql dictionary.extfiles?

PROC sql; describe table dictionary.extfiles;

          select * from dictionary.extfiles;

          select   fileref,directory,temporary,xpath

            from   dictionary.extfiles

           order   by fileref;

          ******   fails;

          select   fileref,directory,exists,temporary,xpath

            from dictionary.extfiles;

          quit;

A quick perusal of the OnLineDoc finds there is a function named exists in the GTL: Graph Template Language.q

OpSys: Win XP 32

SAS v9.3

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

Yep, the reason is it is expecting exists to be used as a function.

A work around is use of a table alias:

proc sql;

select   fileref,directory, a.exists, temporary, xpath

            from dictionary.extfiles as a;

          quit;

SQL function Exists tests if a subquery returns one or more rows. So without the table identifier it expects EXISTS to be used as a function.

Probably wasn't the best idea to name a column in the dictionary table with that name.