Date:         Thu, 21 Jan 1999 16:28:54 -0500
Reply-To:     msz03@HEALTH.STATE.NY.US
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         Mike Zdeb <msz03@HEALTH.STATE.NY.US>
Subject:      Renaming a SAS Data Set
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I had thought that the only way to rename a SAS data set was to modify the
header via PROC DATASETS.  I thought that since the name is stored in the
header, renaming the data set via an operating system command (e.g. rename
within DOS) would cause problems.  Now I discover that this is no longer a
problem (SAS Version 6.12 on Windows '95).  The RENAME outside of SAS seems
to work just fine.  I looked at the file and the internal name is still the
old name, but SAS doesn't seem to care and just displays the external name
in PROC CONTENTS, PROC DATASETS, etc.
 
The questions are:  how long has this been the case, are there problems
that I just don't know about caused by the external rename?
Thanks.
 
Mike Zdeb
NYS Department of Health
ESP Tower -  Room 1811
Albany, NY   12237
518/473-2855