Date:         Fri, 26 Apr 1996 17:19:00 PDT
Reply-To:     "Dann, Alec" <DannA@WASHPOST.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Dann, Alec" <DannA@WASHPOST.COM>
Subject:      Re: Allocating a SAS library in MVS

Yes.  There is an undocumented function called dsnexst that tests to see
if the dsn is cataloged and returns a macro variable of the same name
with a value of 1 or 0.  I don't recall the exact syntax (I've been
working in Win95 for the last year), but usage is something like this:
 
dsnexst '<dsn>';
%if dsnexst=1 %then %do;
 < program statements to use dataset already exists>
%else %do;
 < program statements to use when dataset doesn't exist >
%end;
 
You may want to call SAS tech support (whom I got it from) to confirm the
usage above.  If they stonewall you, let me know and I'll call my old
site to get a code sample.
 
 ----------
From:  owner-sas-l[SMTP:owner-sas-l@VM.MARIST.EDU]
Sent:  Thursday, April 25, 1996 8:06 PM
To:  Multiple recipients of list SAS-L
Subject:  Allocating a SAS library in MVS
 
I am using the LIBNAME (library) '(libspec)' DISP=OLD (MVS specs)
to allocate a library internally from SAS.
I would like to know if there is a SAS or TSO command which will indicate
whether this library spec is existent or not so that I do not overwrite
the stuff that are already there, or, if there are tricks you can provide
that will do the same purpose using macro parameter passing (possibly!).
 
I would appreciate any hints you can provide.
Thanks.
:) Joy