A PROC SQL view is a
stored query that is executed when you use the view in a SAS procedure
or DATA step. A view contains only the descriptor and other information
required to retrieve the data values from other SAS files (SAS data
files, DATA step views, or other PROC SQL views) or external files
(DBMS data files). When executed, a PROC SQL view's output can
be a subset or superset of one or more underlying files. A view contains
no data, but describes or defines data that is stored elsewhere.
PROC SQL views
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can be used in SAS programs in
place of an actual SAS data file
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can be joined with tables or other
views
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can be derived from one or more
tables, PROC SQL views, DATA step views, or SAS/ACCESS views.
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extract underlying data, which
enables you to access the most current data.
Because PROC SQL views
are not separate copies of data, they are referred to as virtual tables.
They do not exist as independent entities like real tables. However,
views use the same naming conventions as tables and can be used in
SAS programs in place of an actual SAS table. Like tables, views are
considered to be SAS data sets.