Differences between Stored Compiled DATA Step Programs and DATA Step Views

Stored compiled DATA step programs and DATA step views are similar in function. They both store DATA step programs that can retrieve and process data stored in other files. Both have the same restrictions and requirements (see 'Restrictions and Requirements for Stored Compiled DATA Step Programs' on page 548). For information about DATA step views, see Chapter 29, 'SAS Data Views,' on page 539.

Stored compiled DATA step programs and DATA step views differ in the following ways:

• A stored compiled DATA step program is explicitly executed when it is specified by the PGM= option on a DATA statement. The stored compiled DATA step is used primarily in production jobs.

• A DATA step view is implicitly executed when the view is referenced as an input data set by another DATA or procedure (PROC) step. Its main purpose is to provide data one record at a time to the invoking procedure or DATA step.

• You can use the REDIRECT statement when you execute a stored compiled DATA step. You can not use this statement with DATA step views.