Specifying the most recently created data set to use in a read operation

By default, the _LAST_= system option is set to use the most recently created data set. This automatic feature is commonly found in procedure code when the DATA= option is omitted from a PROC.

 To override this built-in default, the _LAST_= system option can be defined as any valid temporary or permanent SAS data set name (refer to data set naming conventions).

The _LAST_= option can be specified in an OPTIONS statement, in the OPTIONS window, at SAS invocation, or in the configuration file.  

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Writing SAS source files included with a %INCLUDE statement to the SAS Log

By default, SAS source statements included with a %INCLUDE statement are NOT automatically written to the SAS Log. To print secondary SAS source statements included with a %INCLUDE statements, users will need to specify the SOURCE2 system option. 

The default setting is NOSOURCE2. Either option can be specified in an OPTIONS statement, in the OPTIONS window, at SAS invocation, or in the configuration file.  

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Preventing SAS data sets from accidentally being replaced

Users can specify the NOREPLACE system option to prevent a permanent SAS data set from being accidentally replaced with another like-named data set. Conversely, by specifying the REPLACE system option like-named data sets can be overwritten.

The REPLACE | NOREPLACE option can be specified in an OPTIONS statement, in the OPTIONS window, at SAS invocation, or in the configuration file.  

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