Chapter 8: Managing Processing Using Proc SQL

1. Dictionary tables can be accessed

By running a PROC SQL query against the table, using the Dictionary libref.

By referring to the PROC SQL view of the table that is stored in the Sashelp library.

By referring to the PROC SQL view of the table that is stored in the Sasuser library.

A and b

Dictionary tables can be accessed by running a PROC SQL query against the table, using the Dictionary libref. Though SAS librefs are usually limited to eight characters, Dictionary is an automatically assigned, reserved word. You can also access a Dictionary table by referring to the PROC SQL view of the table that is stored in the Sashelp library.

Explanation

Dictionary tables can be accessed by running a PROC SQL query against the table, using the Dictionary libref. Though SAS librefs are usually limited to eight characters, Dictionary is an automatically assigned, reserved word. You can also access a Dictionary table by referring to the PROC SQL view of the table that is stored in the Sashelp library.

2. A Dictionary table contains

Information about SAS data libraries.

Information about SAS data sets.

Information about SAS macros.

All of the above

A Dictionary table is a special, read-only SAS data view that contains information about SAS data libraries, SAS data sets, SAS macros, and external files that are in use or available in the current SAS session. A Dictionary table also contains the settings for SAS system options that are currently in effect.

Explanation

A Dictionary table is a special, read-only SAS data view that contains information about SAS data libraries, SAS data sets, SAS macros, and external files that are in use or available in the current SAS session. A Dictionary table also contains the settings for SAS system options that are currently in effect.

3. Dictionary tables are

Created each time they are referenced in a SAS program.

Updated automatically.

Limited to read-only access.

All of the above

Dictionary tables are created each time they are referenced in a SAS program, updated automatically, and limited to read-only access. Accessing a Dictionary table causes SAS to determine the current state of the SAS session and return the information that you want.

Explanation

Dictionary tables are created each time they are referenced in a SAS program, updated automatically, and limited to read-only access. Accessing a Dictionary table causes SAS to determine the current state of the SAS session and return the information that you want.

4. Which of the following options does not affect the appearance of HTML, PDF, or RTF output?

NUMBER | NONUMBER

DOUBLE | NODOUBLE

FLOW | NOFLOW | FLOW=n | FLOW=n m

B and c

The DOUBLE | NODOUBLE option specifies whether PROC SQL output is double-spaced in listing output. The FLOW | NOFLOW | FLOW=n | FLOW=n m option controls the appearance of wide character columns in listing output. Neither option affects the appearance of HTML output.

Explanation

The DOUBLE | NODOUBLE option specifies whether PROC SQL output is double-spaced in listing output. The FLOW | NOFLOW | FLOW=n | FLOW=n m option controls the appearance of wide character columns in listing output. Neither option affects the appearance of HTML output.

5. PROC SQL options are specified in

The PROC SQL statement

An OPTIONS statement.

A SELECT statement.

The OPTIONS procedure.

PROC SQL options are specified in the PROC SQL statement. After you specify an option, it remains in effect until you change it or you re-invoke PROC SQL.

Explanation

PROC SQL options are specified in the PROC SQL statement. After you specify an option, it remains in effect until you change it or you re-invoke PROC SQL.

6. Which of the following options restricts the number of rows that PROC SQL takes as input from any single source?

OUTOBS=

INOBS=

OBS=

None of the above

The INOBS= option restricts the number of rows that PROC SQL takes as input from any single source. The INOBS= option is similar to the SAS system option OBS= and is useful for debugging queries on large tables. The OUTOBS= option restricts the number of rows that PROC SQL displays or writes to a table.

Explanation

The INOBS= option restricts the number of rows that PROC SQL takes as input from any single source. The INOBS= option is similar to the SAS system option OBS= and is useful for debugging queries on large tables. The OUTOBS= option restricts the number of rows that PROC SQL displays or writes to a table.

7. Which of the following statements is true regarding the STIMER option in PROC SQL?

The STIMER option in PROC SQL writes timing information for each statement to the SAS log.

The STIMER option in PROC SQL writes only cumulative timing information for the entire procedure to the SAS log.

When using the STIMER option in PROC SQL, the SAS system option STIMER must also be in effect.

A and c

The STIMER | NOSTIMER option in PROC SQL specifies whether PROC SQL writes timing information for each statement to the SAS log, instead of as a cumulative value for the entire procedure. NOSTIMER is the default. In order to use the STIMER option in PROC SQL, the SAS system option STIMER (the default) must also be in effect. If you use the system option alone, you will receive timing information for the entire procedure, not on a statement-by-statement basis.

Explanation

The STIMER | NOSTIMER option in PROC SQL specifies whether PROC SQL writes timing information for each statement to the SAS log, instead of as a cumulative value for the entire procedure. NOSTIMER is the default. In order to use the STIMER option in PROC SQL, the SAS system option STIMER (the default) must also be in effect. If you use the system option alone, you will receive timing information for the entire procedure, not on a statement-by-statement basis.

8. Which of the following PROC SQL steps displays information about the Dictionary table Dictionary.Titles?

Proc sql; describe dictionary.titles;

Proc sql; describe table dictionary.titles;

Proc sql describe table dictionary.titles;

Proc sql describe dictionary titles;

To see how a Dictionary table is defined, submit a DESCRIBE TABLE statement. The DESCRIBE TABLE statement writes a CREATE TABLE statement to the SAS log for the table specified in the DESCRIBE TABLE statement.

Explanation

To see how a Dictionary table is defined, submit a DESCRIBE TABLE statement. The DESCRIBE TABLE statement writes a CREATE TABLE statement to the SAS log for the table specified in the DESCRIBE TABLE statement.

9. Which PROC SQL step creates the output shown below?

After you specify an option, it remains in effect until you change it or you re-invoke PROC SQL. You can use the RESET statement to add, drop, or change PROC SQL options without re-invoking the SQL procedure. In the correct answer, the RESET statement adds the NUMBER option and the OUTOBS= option. The resulting output lists the first 10 rows in the table Sasuser.Flightattendants where the value of Jobcode equals FA2 and includes a column named Row.

Explanation

After you specify an option, it remains in effect until you change it or you re-invoke PROC SQL. You can use the RESET statement to add, drop, or change PROC SQL options without re-invoking the SQL procedure. In the correct answer, the RESET statement adds the NUMBER option and the OUTOBS= option. The resulting output lists the first 10 rows in the table Sasuser.Flightattendants where the value of Jobcode equals FA2 and includes a column named Row.

10. Which of the following PROC SQL steps displays the name (Memname), modification date (Modate), number of variables (Nvar), and the number of observations (Nobs) for each table in the Sasuser library?

To display information about the files in a specific library, specify the column names in a SELECT statement and the Dictionary table name in the FROM clause. The library name in the WHERE clause must be specified in uppercase letters because that is how it is stored in SAS and it must be enclosed in quotation marks.

Explanation

To display information about the files in a specific library, specify the column names in a SELECT statement and the Dictionary table name in the FROM clause. The library name in the WHERE clause must be specified in uppercase letters because that is how it is stored in SAS and it must be enclosed in quotation marks.