SAS 9.4 Language Reference, 6th Edition

About Library Engines

Definition of a Library Engine

A library engine is an engine that accesses groups of files and puts them into a logical

form for processing by SAS utility procedures and windows. A library engine also

determines the fundamental processing characteristics of the library and presents lists of

files for the library directory. Library engines can be classified as native or interface.

Native Library Engines

Definition of Native Library Engine

A native library engine is an engine that accesses forms of SAS files that are created and

processed only by SAS.

Operating Environment Information

Engine availability is host dependent. See the SAS documentation for your operating

environment. Also, specific products provide additional engines.

Default Base SAS Engine

The default Base SAS engine writes SAS libraries in disk format. The engine processes

SAS 7, SAS 8, and SAS 9 files. If you do not specify an engine name when you are

creating a new SAS library, the Base SAS engine, which for SAS 9 is named V9, is

automatically selected.

When accessing existing SAS data sets on disk, SAS assigns an engine based on the

contents of the library. The Base SAS engine has the following characteristics:

• It is the only engine that supports the full functionality of the SAS data set and the

SAS library.

• It supports view engines.

• It meets all the processing characteristics required by SAS statements and

procedures.

• It creates, maintains, and uses indexes.

• It reads and writes compressed (variable-length) observations. SAS data sets created

by other engines have fixed-length observations.

• It assigns a permanent page size to data sets and temporarily assigns the number of

buffers to be used when processing them.

• It repairs damaged SAS data sets, indexes, and catalogs.

• It enforces integrity constraints, creates backup files, and creates audit trails.

Note: SAS files created in SAS 7, 8, and 9 have the same file format.

Remote Engine

The REMOTE engine is a SAS library engine for SAS/SHARE software. Using it

enables a SAS session to access shared data by communicating with a SAS server. For

more information, see the SAS/SHARE User’s Guide.

750 Chapter 37 • SAS Engines