Using PROC SQL Options to Create and Debug Queries

PROC SQL supports options that can give you greater control over PROC SQL while you are developing a query:

• The INOBS=, OUTOBS=, and LOOPS= options reduce query execution time by limiting the number of rows and the number of iterations that PROC SQL processes.
  
• The EXEC and VALIDATE statements enable you to quickly check the syntax of a query.
  
• The FEEDBACK option displays the columns that are represented by a SELECT * statement.
  
• The PROC SQL STIMER option records and displays query execution time.

You can set an option initially in the PROC SQL statement, and then use the RESET statement to change the same option's setting without ending the current PROC SQL step.