Appendix 1: DATA Step Object Attributes and Methods

The DATA Step Component Object Interface

The DATA step component object interface enables you to create and manipulate predefined component objects in a DATA step. Component objects are data elements that consist of attributes and methods. Attributes are the properties that specify the information that is associated with an object. An example is size . Methods define the operations that an object can perform.

SAS provides two predefined component objects for use in a DATA step: the hash object and the hash iterator object. These objects enable you to quickly and efficiently store, search, and retrieve data based on lookup keys. For more information about these objects, see Using DATA Step Component Objects in SAS Language Reference: Concepts .

You use the DECLARE and _NEW_ statements to declare and create a component object. You use the DATA step object dot notation to access the component object s attributes and methods.

Note: The hash and hash iterator object attributes and methods are limited to those defined for these objects. You cannot use the SAS Component Language functionality with these predefined DATA step objects.