SAS 9.4 SQL Procedure User's Guide, Fourth Edition, 4th Edition

• retrieve data from tables or views

• combine data from tables or views

• create tables, views, and indexes

• update the data values in PROC SQL tables

• update and retrieve data from database management system (DBMS) tables

• modify a PROC SQL table by adding, modifying, or dropping columns

PROC SQL can be used in an interactive SAS session or within batch programs, and it

can include global statements, such as TITLE and OPTIONS.

Terminology

Tables

A PROC SQL table is the same as a SAS data file. It is a SAS file of type DATA. PROC

SQL tables consist of rows and columns. The rows correspond to observations in SAS

data files, and the columns correspond to variables. The following table lists equivalent

terms that are used in SQL, SAS, and traditional data processing.

Table 1.1 Comparing Equivalent Terms

SQL Term SAS Term Data Processing Term

table SAS data file file

row observation record

column variable field

You can create and modify tables by using the SAS DATA step, or by using the PROC

SQL statements that are described in Chapter 4, “Creating and Updating Tables and

Views,” on page 111. Other SAS procedures and the DATA step can read and update

tables that are created with PROC SQL.

SAS data files can have a one-level name or a two-level name. Typically, the names of

temporary SAS data files have only one level, and the data files are stored in the Work

library. PROC SQL assumes that SAS data files that are specified with a one-level name

are to be read from or written to the Work library, unless you specify a User library. You

can assign a User library with a LIBNAME statement or with the SAS system option

USER=. For more information about how to work with SAS data files and libraries, see

“Temporary and Permanent SAS Data Sets” in Base SAS Procedures Guide.

DBMS tables are tables that were created with other software vendors' database

management systems. PROC SQL can connect to, update, and modify DBMS tables,

with some restrictions. For more information, see “Accessing a DBMS with

SAS/ACCESS Software” on page 167.

4 Chapter 1 • Introduction to the SQL Procedure