SAS VA Autoload, "order of table load?"

[kjohnsonm]

Hello fellow VA users,
I have finally gotten my SAS VA (7.4 if it matters) to work with AutoLoading of data sets. I have a specific question on order of operation after a reboot of the server.  (for any reason My SAS VA system might restart)    What is the order that the data files reload assuming AutoLoad works as expected?
Let’s limit it to all sets are in the same LASR, and all in the AutoLoad folder not the append folder.

If helpful I can provide some example data set names and date/time stamps.  I just am not sure if its that complicated or if it's controllable at all to warrant the time.  TIA. -KJ

PS Did you know in the VAAG.pdf AutoLoad is referanced 339 times  lol (at least on my version) I gave up after about 50 find next.

[JuanS_OCS · Accepted solution]

Hello @kjohnsonm,

generally speaking, the load order is alphabetical, decreasing order. If you open the log of one of your autoload actions, you will see how it behaves. Also what it does first: load, unload, append.

And yes, I am aware of that fact, it makes sense since Autoload is one of the main cool features in SAS VA 😉

[kjohnsonm]

How about? "if it's controllable" Can I override it?

[JuanS_OCS]

Just by controlling the names of the tables/files, to adjust them to the order you need (prefixes, perhaps).

But, why would you want or require to control the load order? Just curious, perhaps there is a very good reason, and it would help me to learn about it.

[kjohnsonm]

Juans_OCS, Thank you. Just to control expectations on how long it might take to have a data set available say for example I load 200 1GB datasets, and say for example the 'natural' name a high priority data set might be xray but its last alphabetically. It's manageable though like you said. I could just add A1_xray, or AA_xray to fix my issue.

[kjohnsonm]

ps I'm surprised it cannot be defined granularly in a list or other means so we can keep natual names...

[JuanS_OCS]

Hello @kjohnsonm,

you can, you could define more than 1 autoload library/folder, and schedule them in order of priority. Then you can keep natural names.

However, I would never separate data for data loading times, but by functionality or permissions....