Common Data Element Definition Statements

Common data elements are elements that are used by more than one
MICS
file. If a common element is used by files in more than one product, the common element is defined in the special generation library member named $DEGENIN. If a common element is used by files in a single product, the common element is defined in that product's cccGENIN member before the first AREA statement.
micsrm140
Common data elements are elements that are used by more than one
MICS
file. If a common element is used by files in more than one product, the common element is defined in the special generation library member named $DEGENIN. If a common element is used by files in a single product, the common element is defined in that product's cccGENIN member before the first AREA statement.
The characteristics of common data elements are defined in a single place (the GENIN member) and they are included in a file's definition through reference to the common definition (using the TYPE and NAME statements). These statements are grouped in clusters, according to function. The statement types used to describe common data elements are TYPE, ALIAS, ALTNAME, and NAME.
The TYPE statement defines the summarization characteristics of one or more data elements. Each file in the information area can have multiple TYPE statements.
Each of the other three statement types applies to the definition of an individual data element:
ALIAS
(Optional) This statement is used to define an alternate data element name. The alternate name is used by MICF when it looks for the data element's documentation. For example, data elements IMSRVAL1 through IMSRVAL8 is documented on the
MICS Data Dictionary
by the member named IMSRVALX. One ALIAS statement applies only to the data element defined by the NAME statement following the ALIAS statement.
ALTNAME
This statement is used to replace the name of a common data element on all files in which that data element is kept.
NAME
This statement gives the name and title of the data element itself.
The grouping and order of the statements is important because of the hierarchical nature of MCG statements. This following illustration describes the order of statements:
Common Data Element Definition
 
+-------> +------------------- TYPE .... | | | | +- ALIAS ... | | Data element group -+- NAME ... | | | type | | group -+ more data element groups ... | | GENLIB | | +- ALTNAME ... member | | Data element group -+- NAME ... $DEGENIN-+ | or | | cccGENIN | | | | Data element group -+- NAME ... | +-------------------- | | | more | type | groups - ... | +--------------------------------- last type group

Type Statement (TYPE)

This statement defines the type, length, and SAS format attributes for common data elements.
Statement Format
 
This keyword is coded with the KEYWORD starting in column 1, free-form, and continuing through column 72. Continuation is not supported. The following illustration describes the format and coding rules for the TYPE Statement.
TYPE tt lll.l ffffff lll.l fffffff lll.l fffffff | | | | | | | | | | | | | +---YMF - SAS | | | | | | FORMAT for | | | | | | YEARS and | | | | | | MONTHS | | | | | | | | | | | +---YML - SAS LENGTH | | | | | for YEARS and | | | | | MONTHS | | | | | | | | | +---DWF - SAS FORMAT for | | | | WEEKS and DAYS | | | | | | | +---DWL - SAS LENGTH for WEEKS and | | | DAYS | | | | | +---DTF - SAS FORMAT for DETAIL | | | +---DTL - SAS LENGTH for DETAIL | +---DATATYPE - Type of data element that is defined as computed with generic, common retained, common accumulated, common maximum, or common minimum.
Statement Option Definitions
 
TYPE
This option defines data elements' type, length, and SAS format attributes. The definitions that are provided in a TYPE statement are used for all data elements following the statement (NAME statements) until a new TYPE statement is encountered.
DATATYPE
This option defines the type of data element and the manner in which this element is operated on by the
MICS
summarization process. The valid codes include:
XC 
Common Derived element
XR
Common Retained element
XA
Common Accumulated element
XM
Common Maximum element
XN
Common Minimum element
XCN
Common Derived data element with no expressions
DTL
This option defines the number of bytes to use for the data element's LENGTH in the DETAIL timespan. The LENGTH is required. Any valid SAS numeric or character LENGTH may be used. The maximum length of this value is 5 characters. Refer to the LENGTH definition recommendations.
DTF
This option defines the display mask that is to be used as the data element's FORMAT and INFORMAT when used in the DETAIL timespan. The format is not required and is coded as a (.) to specify no format. Any valid SAS FORMAT may be used. The maximum length of this value is 12 characters. Refer to the FORMAT definition recommendations.
DWL
This option defines the number of bytes to use for the data element's LENGTH when used in the DAYS or WEEKS timespans. The LENGTH is required. Any valid SAS numeric or character LENGTH may be used. The maximum length of this value is 5 characters. Refer to the LENGTH definition recommendations.
DWF
This option defines the display mask that is to be used as the data element's FORMAT and INFORMAT when used in the DAYS or weeks timespans. The format is not required and is coded as a (.) to specify no format. If no format has been specified but a FORMAT was defined for the DETAIL timespan (DTF), then that FORMAT is used in place of the "no format" specification. Any valid SAS FORMAT may be used. The maximum length of this value is 12 characters. Refer to the FORMAT definition recommendations.
YML
This option defines the number of bytes to use for the data element's LENGTH in the YEARS or MONTHS timespans. The LENGTH is required. Any valid SAS numeric or character LENGTH may be used. The maximum length of this value is 5 characters. Refer to the LENGTH definition recommendations.
YMF
This option defines the display mask that is to be used as the data element's FORMAT and INFORMAT when used in the YEARS or MONTHS timespans. The format is not required and is coded as a (.) to specify no format. If no format has been specified but a FORMAT was defined for the lower timespans (DWF or DTF), then that FORMAT is used in place of the "no format" specification. Any valid SAS FORMAT may be used. The maximum length of this value is 12 characters. Refer to the FORMAT definition recommendations.
LENGTH Definition Recommendations 
 
Integer values: Maximum Value SAS LENGTH 255 2 65,535 3 16,777,215 4 4,294,967,295 5 1,099,511,627,775 6 281,474,946,710,655 7 720,557,594,037,928,000 8 Fractions to 0.1 Maximum Value SAS LENGTH 255.9 3 65,535.9 4 16,777,215.9 5 4,294,967,295.9 6 1,099,511,627,775.9 7 281,474,976,710,656.9 8 Fractions to 0.01 Maximum Value SAS LENGTH 255.99 3 65,535.99 4 16,777,215.99 5 4,294,967,295.99 6 1,099,511,627,775.99 7 281,474,976,710,656.99 8 Times in 0.01-Seconds Maximum Value SAS LENGTH HH:MM:SS.HS 18:12:15.99 4 4,660:20:15.99 5 ?????????????????? 6
FORMAT Definition Recommendations
 
  • Do not specify formats for integer, fraction, and character data elements. Instead, enter a period (missing value) in the format field.
  • Percentage data elements should have a LENGTH of 3 and a FORMAT of MAPCT, which displays the percentage as 999.99 percent.
Times in 0.01-Seconds FORMAT SAS LENGTH TIME11.2 5 TIME15.2 6 TIME18.2 7 TIME18.2 8
  • Timestamp data elements should have a LENGTH of 7 and a FORMAT of DATETIME19.2 (DDMMMYY:HH:MM:SS.HS) or DATETIME21.2 (DDMMMYYYY:HH:MM:SS.HS).
Statement Definition Example
 
TYPE XM 7 DATETIME19.2 7 DATETIME19.2 7 DATETIME19.2
The data elements that are defined by the NAME statements to follow are common data elements that are to be operated on as maximum values (XM). The value is a timestamp having a length of 7 bytes and a format of DATETIME19.2 (09APR82:11:17:23.22) for the DETAIL, DAYS/WEEKS, and MONTHS/YEARS definitions.

Alias Statement (ALIAS)

This statement defines the name by which this data element's associated data dictionary description is stored. Most data elements have their data dictionary elements that are stored as members with names that are the same as that of the element. There are cases where several different data elements have a common definition. In these cases, this definition need only be stored one time and an alias that is assigned to each of the applicable elements.
The ALIAS statement for common data elements that are coded in $DEGENIN is identical in content to the ALIAS statement for ordinary data elements.
Statement Format
 
This keyword is coded with the KEYWORD starting in column 1, free-form, and continuing through column 72. Continuation is not supported. The following illustrtion describes the format and coding rules for the alias statement.
ALIAS xxxxxxxx | +---ALIASNAM - Data element name alias that is used to name this element's data
Statement Option Definitions
 
ALIAS
This option defines the name by which this data element's associated data dictionary description is stored.
ALIASNAM
this option assigns a data dictionary alias for the data element name instead of using the standard data element name in the data dictionary.
Statement Definition Example
 
ALIAS TSMDIST
This statement assigns an alias data dictionary name "TSMDIST" to the data element defined in the NAME statement immediately following this ALIAS statement.

Alternate Name Statement (ALTNAME)

This statement is used in situations when it is necessary for an alternate name to be assigned to a common data element. Consult
Broadcom Support
Group before attempting to use this MCG statement type.

Name Statement (NAME)

This statement identifies a data element and defines its program tag and 40-character label. The NAME statement that is used to describe common data elements differs from the NAME statement that is used for ordinary data elements:
  • The element can be defined in either $DEGENIN or in the cccGENIN member before the first AREA statement
  • The format of the NAME statement is simplified as illustrated here
Common elements are not defined using NAMX statements because they are essential.
Statement Format
 
This keyword is coded with the KEYWORD starting in column 1, free-form, and continuing through column 72. Continuation is not supported. The following illustration describes the format and coding rules for the NAME statement for common data elements.
NAME nnnnnnnn xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | | | +---LABEL - element description | +---TAG - Data element name (4-8 characters).
Statement Options Definition
 
TAG
This option is the data element name, 4-8 characters. The data element is a Common data element, so there is no restriction on the contents of positions 1-3.
LABEL
A 40-character element description.
Example:
 
NAME ENDTS End Time Stamp