File Definition Commands

You can use most of the file definition commands in the initial state, the transformation state, and the procedure state. Most of these commands cause errors if you try to use them in the input program state. However, DATA LIST and KEYED DATA LIST can be and often are used in input programs.

After they are used in the initial state, most file definition commands move the program directly to the transformation state, since these commands are the entire input program. FILE TYPE and INPUT PROGRAM move the program into the input program state and require input program commands to complete the input program. Commands in the table Table 1 marked with a dagger (†) clear the active dataset.