SAS(R) 9.1.3 Companion for z/OS

CHAPTER
4
Allocating External Files
Introduction to External Files 73
Ways of Allocating External Files 73
Allocating a File for a Single Use 74
Allocating a File for Multiple Uses 74
Using the FILENAME Statement or Function to Allocate External Files 74
FILENAME Statement Syntax 75
FILENAME Statement Examples 76
Using the JCL DD Statement to Allocate External Files 76
Using the TSO Allocate Command to Allocate External Files 77
Allocating External Files on Tape 77
Allocating External Files to a Pipe 78
Allocating Generation Data Sets 79
Allocating a New Generation of a Generation Data Group 79
Allocating an Existing Generation of a Generation Data Group 79
Allocating Nonstandard External Files 80
Allocating ISAM Files 80
Allocating UNIX System Services HFS Files 80
Allocating PDSEs 80
Concatenating External Files 81
Displaying Information about External Files 81
Deallocating External Files 81
Introduction to External Files
External files are files whose format is determined by the operating environment
rather than by SAS software. External files include raw data files, JCL libraries, files
that contain SAS programming statements, load libraries, and HFS files, which are
part of UNIX System Services (USS). In batch and noninteractive line modes, the SAS
log and procedure output files are also external files.
Ways of Allocating External Files
To work with an external file in SAS software, you must first allocate the file. File
allocation is the process of identifying an external file to SAS software. If you are
allocating a new data set, such as a sequential file, partitioned data set (PDS), or
partitioned data set extended (PDSE), you must specify that it is new and you must
describe its structure and format. These actions are not required for new files in the
Hierarchical File System (HFS).
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