Date:         Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:09:01 -0400
Reply-To:     Dimitri Shvorob <dimitri.shvorob@VANDERBILT.EDU>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Dimitri Shvorob <dimitri.shvorob@VANDERBILT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: CREATE TABLE recursively references the target table

Chang, you got it, thanks! (The example is all the more intriguing as

  create table a as
  select *
  from  (select age from a);

(I replaced 'select 14 as age' with 'select age') runs OK.

Also thanks to Paul and Howard! To answer Paul's (implicit) question,

I cannot see why creating a table using a recursive reference to its
former self would be necessary. If the goal is to update a master file,
other instruments are better suited for the purpose.

I use recursive CREATE TABLE to add columns to existing tables

  create table a as
  select *, 14 as age
  from a;

(age could also come from a different table).

Admittedly, ADD COLUMN .. UPDATE would be more efficient.