SAS files are processed and controlled through the SAS System and are stored in a SAS data library. Database files 7 and 8 are optional files for the Update Log and Rollback Log. The default format is BEST12. See also level. Indexing usually makes data set processing faster, although the SAS System determines the most efficient way to process data maintained by the SAS System.
Indexed values provide more efficient access than nonindexed values.
If an item is non-key, values are not indexed, although they can be searched sequentially. Procedure output and informative messages are returned directly to your terminal display. The corresponding data records also reflect the hierarchical structure. A SAS file's complete name consists of two words separated by a period. Member types include access, data, catalog, program, and view.