Describe a SAS view

For SAS version 6.12 in unix, files with extension ssv01 are SAS views. For SAS version 8 and 9, the file extension is changed to sas7bvew (this also apply for Windows).
In my previous company, there are at least 2 types of SAS views. I will called one type as data step views, because the view is generated by a data step statement. Another type is referred as SQL-view which is actually a SAS view on DB2 table generated using a [ proc sql ] statement.
Both types of SAS view will have the same file extension. Therefore, by just looking at the file extension, you cannot know which type of view one is using.
Starting from SAS version 8 in AIX, the view generation source code is also included inside the sas7bvew file. Therefore, you can [ describe ] the sas7bvew file to find out how the view is generated.
But, you have to use different programming statements to [ describe ] the 2 types of views.

For data step views, the coding is :

data view=myLib.myView ; describe ; run;

For SQL-view, the coding is :

proc sql ; describe view myLib.myView ; quit;

On looking at the myView.sas7bvew file, how do you know which one of the two codings to be used ? This depends on whether there is some pre-defined file name naming standard in your company. If there is such a standard, you can tell by the file name. If not, simply use trial and error.

Alvin SIU
2018-11-21
Last Updated: 2020-04-04

Copyright/Licence Information: All information and coding in this article is offered at no charge for NON-COMMERCIAL PERSONAL USE only.

This blog and the coding is copyright.
Reproduction of this blog and its coding in whole or in part in any form without the explicit written permission of the author is strictly prohibited.

Disclaimer: All information in this article is distributed "as is" and is UNSUPPORTED. NO WARRANTY of any kind is expressed or implied. You use AT YOUR OWN RISK. The author will not be liable for any data loss, damages, and loss of profits or any other kind of tangible or intangible loss while using or misusing wholly or partly of the information.