Dictionary tables are special read-only Proc SQL tables or views. They retrieve information about all the SAS libraries, SAS datasets, SAS system options, and external files that are associated with the current SAS session. For example, the DICTIONARY.COLUMNS table contains information such as name, type, length, and format, about all columns in all tables that are known to the current SAS session.
Proc SQL automatically assigns the DICTIONARY libref. To get information from DICTIONARY tables, specify DICTIONARY.table-name in the FROM clause in a SELECT statement in PROC SQL.
A list of dictionary tables and associated SASHELP views is as follows:
|
DICTIONARY Table |
SASHELP View |
Description |
|
CATALOGS |
VCATALG |
Contains information about known SAS catalogs. |
|
CHECK_CONSTRAINTS |
VCHKCON |
Contains information about known check constraints. |
|
COLUMNS... |