PROC SQL: Beyond the Basics Using SAS®

2.4. Dictionary Tables

The SAS System generates and maintains valuable information at runtime about SAS libraries, data sets, catalogs, indexes, macros, system options, titles, and views in a collection of read-only tables called dictionary tables. Although called tables, dictionary tables are not real tables at all. Information is automatically generated at runtime and the tables’ contents are made available once a SAS session is started.

Dictionary tables and their contents permit a SAS session’s activities to be easily accessed and monitored. This becomes particularly important when building intelligent software applications. You can also specify other SELECT statement clauses, such as WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING, and ORDER BY, when accessing ...