UPDATE views are not supported error?

[Phil_NZ]

Hi all,

Today, when running the code on SAS Base 9.4, I got this error, could you please help me to identify what it is and how to overcome it

443  /* Add one-day-ahead eta */
444  options mergenoby=nowarn;
445  data previous_replace/view=previous_replace;
446      merge previous_replace previous_replace
447      (firstobs=2 keep=eta rename=(eta=eta_lead1));
448  run;

ERROR: UPDATE views are not supported.
NOTE: View not saved due to errors.

Warm regards.

[Shmuel]

What data type is previous_replace ? is it DATA or VIEW ?

If it is VIEW then the message clarifies itself: 

ERROR: UPDATE views are not supported.

A view holds the code, not the data, so it may be used as input only.

If previous_replace was DATA type then your code would work without error.

[Phil_NZ]

Hi @Shmuel 

The previous_place dataset on the merge line is a dataset. And I try to create a view previous_place  by merging two datasets previous_place on merge statement.

Warm regards.

[Shmuel]

suppose mylib.table is a view and a data at same time.

doing SET mylib.table - which one would sas read?

You can't save a view in same the name as existing data. 

[ChrisNZ]

A quick search would have lead you to this very good paper:

https://www.lexjansen.com/wuss/2011/coders/Papers_Billings_T_73653.pdf

[Ksharp · Accepted solution]

You can't have view and dataset the SAME name .

data previous_replace;
 set sashelp.class;
run;



options mergenoby=nowarn;
  data previous_replace_view /view=previous_replace_view ;
      merge previous_replace previous_replace
      (firstobs=2 keep=age rename=(age=eta_lead1));
  run;