[bit.listserv.sas-l] Size of PC SAS file

APINDOR@VM.UTCS.UTORONTO.CA (Andrzej Pindor) (01/09/90)

Since someone asked about a size a data set PC SAS can handle, I enclose below
two tables summarizing amount of memory available for data on a PC running SAS
and maximum number of variables a data set can have. Column 'noninteractive'
means running SAS in batch (without Display Manager). Accuracy of the numbers
is about 5%.

                   Memory available for data


                                                 Mode of operation

    Memory                             interactive        noninteractive

   640 Kb                                100 Kb              210 Kb
   640 Kb + 1Mb (EMS)                    360 Kb              400 Kb



                   Number of variables allowed

                                                  Mode of operation

    Memory                              interactive        noninteractive

   640 Kb                                 750                 1050
   640 Kb + 1Mb (EMS)                    1600                 1775


The numbers of variables shown are correct only for a very simple DATA step. In
practical situation one will run into memory barrier for smaller numbers.
===============================================================================
Andrzej Pindor
University of Toronto
Computing Services
APINDOR@UTORVM