8

Actions on SAS Datasets

Usually, in a SAS program, you work with a SAS dataset one observation at
a time. Sometimes, though, it makes sense to think of working with the SAS
dataset as a whole. This is especially the case in database-style applications,
which are likely to keep SAS datasets for an extended period of time and use
them both interactively and in SAS programs.

Creating
A SAS dataset can be created in a data step or a proc step. By default, a data
step creates a SAS dataset that contains all the variables of the data step,
with just a few kinds of variables excluded. The data step writes one
observation to the output SAS dataset each time it reads input data; a data
step that does not read input data writes just one observation. Proc steps
also create SAS datasets; the proc determines what observations and
variables it creates.
Usually, a SAS dataset is created together with the data that it contains.
However, it is also possible to create an empty SAS dataset. The idea is that
you will add data to the SAS dataset in a later process. There are several
ways to create an empty SAS dataset.

@ To create a new, empty SAS data file in a data step, write a LENGTH
statement to define the variables. If necessary, use other statements, such as
LABEL and FORMAT statements, to define other attributes of the variables.
This example creates a SAS data file CORP.MEMBER with two variables,
NAME and DOB, and no observations.
DATA CORP.MEMBER;
LENGTH NAME $ 28 DOB 4;
FORMAT DOB DATE9.;
INFORMAT DOB DATE9.;
STOP;
RUN;

NOTE: Variable NAME is uninitialized.

NOTE: Variable DOB is uninitialized.
58 Professional SAS Programming Shortcuts

NOTE: The data set CORP.MEMBER has 0 observations and 2 variables.

@ An empty SAS data file can also be created in SQL using a CREATE
TABLE statement. In the CREATE TABLE statement, the name of the SAS
data file (or table) is followed by a list, in parentheses, of variable
definitions.
A variable definition includes the variable name and a data type, which
can be one of the following:
CHARACTER(width)
NUMERIC

The data types can be abbreviated as CHAR and NUM. SQL syntax allows
several other data type names, but SAS implements all the SQL data types as
either the numeric or character data type. The width argument for the
character data type determines the length of the character variable.
The column attributes INFORMAT=, FORMAT=, and LABEL= can
follow the data type to set other attributes of the variable. Unfortunately,
the LENGTH= column attribute is not recognized in this kind of CREATE
TABLE statement, and there is no way to set the length of a numeric
variable.
This example creates the same SAS data file that was created in the earli-
er data step example, except that the numeric variable DOB has the default
length of 8.
PROC SQL;
CREATE TABLE CORP.MEMBER
(NAME CHARACTER(28),
DOB NUMERIC INFORMAT=DATE9. FORMAT=DATE9.);

NOTE: Table CORP.MEMBER created, with 0 rows and 2 columns.

@ To create a new, empty SAS data file with the same variables and
attributes as an existing SAS dataset, use a data step with a SET statement
and a STOP statement. This data step creates a new SAS data file CORP.NX
based on CORP.MEMBER.
DATA CORP.NX;
SET CORP.MEMBER;
STOP;
RUN;

Alternatively, use the OBS=0 dataset option in the SET statement. With
the OBS=0 dataset option, the STOP statement is not necessary.

@ To do the same thing in SQL, use a CREATE TABLE statement with a

LIKE clause, as in this example.
PROC SQL;
 Actions on SAS Datasets 59

CREATE TABLE CORP.NX LIKE CORP.MEMBER;

@ To create a SAS data file that has the variables of several existing SAS
datasets, list those SAS datasets in the SET statement of a data step, followed
by a STOP statement. The new SAS data file contains every variable that is in
any of the SAS datasets listed.

@ Use the KEEP= or DROP= dataset option to create a new SAS dataset
that contains only some of the variables of an existing SAS dataset.

Describing
@ The CONTENTS proc creates a report that shows the details of the form
of a SAS dataset. Identify the SAS dataset in the PROC CONTENTS statement:

PROC CONTENTS DATA=SAS dataset;

RUN;

The information that is available about the SAS dataset depends on the
environment and engine. The general information about the SAS dataset is
followed by a table of all the attributes of the variables. It lists variables in
alphabetical order.
Use the OUT= option to create a SAS dataset of most of this information.
The output SAS dataset contains one observation for each variable.

@ In SQL, the DESCRIBE TABLE statement provides information about

attributes of variables in a very different format. It writes a log message that
includes a CREATE TABLE statement that could be used to create the SAS
data file.

PROC SQL;
DESCRIBE TABLE CORP.MEMBER;

NOTE: SQL table CORP.MEMBER was created like:

create table CORP.MEMBER( bufsize=4096 )

(
NAME char(28),
DOB num format=DATE9. informat=DATE9.
);

From a data step view or SQL view, you can obtain the program that is
contained in the view. See chapter 60, “Data Step Views,” and chapter 42,
“SQL,” for details.
60 Professional SAS Programming Shortcuts

Changing
@ There are many ways to change the data contained in a SAS data file,
including these:
• Use a data step with a SET statement to replace the SAS data file.
• Use a data step with a MODIFY statement to modify the SAS data file
in place.
• Edit the SAS data file interactively in the Viewtable application, the
FSEDIT or FSVIEW proc, or an AF entry that uses an extended table to
allow editing of the SAS data file.
• Add a set of observations from another SAS dataset with the APPEND
proc, as described later in this chapter.
• Add, delete, or change observations with SQL statements.
• Use the SORT proc to change the order of observations.

@ Use the CHANGE statement of the DATASETS proc to change the name
of a SAS dataset or other SAS file. The DATASETS proc requires you to
provide the libref and member name separately. Indicate the libref in the
LIBRARY= option in the PROC DATASETS statement. Indicate member names
in the specific action statements of the proc. In the CHANGE statement,
write the old name, an equals sign, and the new name for the member. This
example changes the name of WORK.OFFICE to WORK.PLACE:
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=WORK NOLIST;
CHANGE OFFICE=PLACE;
RUN;

NOTE: Changing the name WORK.OFFICE to WORK.PLACE (memtype=DATA).

☛ Ordinarily, the PROC DATASETS statement writes a member list in the

log. Use the NOLIST option whenever you will not be using the member list.

@ To swap the names of two SAS files, use the EXCHANGE statement in
the DATASETS proc. This example changes the name of WORK.SPACE to
WORK.PLACE and changes the name of WORK.PLACE to WORK.SPACE:
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=WORK NOLIST;
EXCHANGE SPACE=PLACE;
RUN;

NOTE: Exchanging the names WORK.SPACE and WORK.PLACE (memtype=DATA).

@ The AGE statement of the DATASETS proc renames a sequence of SAS

files and deletes a SAS file in a single action. Each member listed in the AGE
statement has its name changed to the next name in the list. The last member
in the list is deleted. This example deletes BE.BEFORE, changes the name of
 Actions on SAS Datasets 61

BE.NOW to BE.BEFORE, and changes the name of BE.NEXT to BE.NOW.

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=BE NOLIST;
AGE NEXT NOW BEFORE;
RUN;

NOTE: Deleting BE.BEFORE (memtype=DATA).

NOTE: Aging the name BE.NOW to BE.BEFORE (memtype=DATA).
NOTE: Aging the name BE.NEXT to BE.NOW (memtype=DATA).

@ To change the dataset label or dataset type of a SAS dataset, use the
MODIFY statement of the DATASETS proc. In the MODIFY statement, write
the member name, followed by dataset options: the LABEL= option or the
TYPE= option, respectively. This example changes the dataset label of
CORP.NEWS to “The latest news stories.”
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=CORP NOLIST;
MODIFY NEWS (LABEL='The latest news stories');
RUN;

@ To change the length of a variable in a SAS dataset, replace the SAS

dataset with a new SAS dataset in which you set the length of the variable.
Use a data step with a LENGTH statement followed by a SET statement.
This example changes the length of the variable NAME in the SAS dataset
CORP.MEMBER to 32.
DATA CORP.MEMBER;
LENGTH NAME $ 32;
SET CORP.MEMBER;
RUN;

◆ There is no direct way to change the type of a variable in a SAS dataset.

Instead, it is necessary to replace the SAS dataset while creating a new
variable of the new type and removing the old variable. See chapter 50,
“Type Conversion,” for details.

@ To change the names and other attributes of variables in a SAS data file,
use secondary statements after the MODIFY statement in the DATASETS
proc. Use the INFORMAT, FORMAT, LABEL, and RENAME statements.
The code model below shows the use of these statements.
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=libref NOLIST;
MODIFY SAS dataset;
INFORMAT variable . . . informat . . . ;
FORMAT variable . . . format . . . ;
LABEL variable='label ' . . . ;
RENAME old name=new name . . . ;
RUN;
62 Professional SAS Programming Shortcuts

Copying
There are several ways to copy a SAS dataset in a SAS program, each with
its own advantages and disadvantages.
• The COPY proc is the most direct way to copy a SAS file. It is the only
way to copy indexes along with a SAS dataset. It cannot change the
member name of a SAS dataset that it copies or copy SAS datasets
within the same library.
• Using a data step to copy a SAS dataset has several advantages. It is the
most efficient way to make multiple copies at the same time, and the
data step makes it possible to make changes in the data. It can create a
standard SAS data file, regardless of the form of the SAS dataset being
copied.
• The CREATE TABLE statement of SQL offers another way to copy data
while making changes, such as computing additional variables.
• The SORT proc is the way to copy a SAS dataset if you want the copy
to have a different sort order.
• The APPEND proc provides an efficient way to add observations from
one SAS dataset to another.

@ To copy all the SAS files of one library to another, use the COPY proc.
Use the IN= and OUT= options in the PROC COPY statement to identify the
libraries. No other statements are required.
PROC COPY IN=libref OUT=libref;
RUN;

@ To restrict the actions of the COPY proc to specific member types, write
the MTYPE= option in the PROC COPY statement. To copy only SAS datasets,
indicate the member types DATA and VIEW, as shown here:
PROC COPY IN=libref OUT=libref MTYPE=(DATA VIEW);
RUN;

@ To copy only selected members of a library, add the SELECT statement

to the COPY proc: This example copies WORK.STATUS to MAIN.STATUS.
PROC COPY IN=WORK OUT=MAIN;
SELECT STATUS;
RUN;

Alternative, use the EXCLUDE statement to copy all members except

specific ones you mention.

@ Use the INDEX=YES option in the PROC COPY statement to copy indexes
along with SAS data files. Also use the CONSTRAINT=YES option to copy the
 Actions on SAS Datasets 63

integrity constraints of SAS data files. Use the INDEX=NO option to copy SAS
data files without copying their indexes or integrity constraints.

@ To copy a SAS file and change its name, first make the copy using the
COPY proc. Then use the CHANGE statement of the DATASETS proc to
change the name. This example copies WORK.STATUS to MAIN.STATE.
PROC COPY IN=WORK OUT=MAIN;
SELECT STATUS;
RUN;
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=MAIN NOLIST;
CHANGE STATUS=STATE;
RUN;

NOTE: Copying WORK.STATUS to MAIN.STATUS (memtype=DATA).

NOTE: There were 141 observations read from the data set WORK.STATUS.
NOTE: The data set TEST.STATUS has 141 observations and 2 variables.

NOTE: Changing the name MAIN.STATUS to MAIN.STATE (memtype=DATA).

◆ The system options OBS= and FIRSTOBS= affect the COPY proc. To copy
all the observations of SAS data files, use the default values FIRSTOBS=1 and
OBS=MAX.

@ To copy a SAS dataset in SQL, use the form of the CREATE TABLE
statement shown in this code model.
PROC SQL;
CREATE TABLE SAS dataset AS SELECT * FROM SAS dataset;

@ To copy a SAS dataset in a data step, use a SET statement, as shown in

this code model.
DATA SAS dataset;
SET SAS dataset;
RUN;

To make multiple copies, list several output SAS datasets in the DATA
statement. To make changes in the data, add additional statements to the
data step.

@ To copy observations from one SAS dataset to the end of another SAS
dataset, use the APPEND proc. This example copies the observations of
ADD to the end of HERE.
PROC APPEND DATA=ADD OUT=HERE;
RUN;
64 Professional SAS Programming Shortcuts

◆ The APPEND proc works only if the two SAS datasets are reasonably
similar to each other. Use the FORCE option in the PROC APPEND statement if
the input SAS dataset has variables that are longer than those in the output
SAS dataset or are not in the output SAS dataset. If the variable names do
not match, use the RENAME= dataset option on the input SAS dataset to
make them match.

@ To make a copy of a SAS dataset, use the APPEND proc with an output
SAS dataset that does not already exist. If necessary, you can delete the
output SAS dataset beforehand with the DATASETS proc, as shown in this
example.
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=WORK NOLIST NOWARN;
DELETE TO (MTYPE=DATA);
RUN;
PROC APPEND DATA=WORK.FROM OUT=WORK.TO;
RUN;

@ To create a sorted copy of a SAS dataset, use the OUT= option in the
SORT proc. This example creates WORK.USSORT as a sorted copy of
WORK.US.
PROC SORT DATA=WORK.US OUT=WORK.USSORT;
BY KEY1 KEY2;
RUN;

For more information about sorting, see chapter 43, “Sorting.”

Deleting
Use the DATASETS proc to delete SAS datasets and other SAS files.

◆ Before deleting a file, make sure that you no longer need the file and that
you have correctly identified the file to delete.

@ To delete all the SAS files in a library, use the KILL option in the PROC
DATASETS statement. This example deletes all SAS files in the WORK library.
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=WORK NOLIST KILL;
RUN;

@ To delete specific SAS files from a library, list them in a DELETE

statement. This example deletes the SAS data files WORK.TEMP and
WORK.TEST.
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=WORK MTYPE=DATA NOLIST NOWARN;
DELETE TEMP TEST;
RUN;
 Actions on SAS Datasets 65

☛ Ordinarily, the DELETE statement writes a log note if the member to

delete does not exist. Use the NOWARN option in the PROC DATASETS
statement to suppress this log note.
☛ The MTYPE= option can also be written in the DELETE statement, for
example:
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=WORK NOLIST NOWARN;
DELETE TEMP TEST / MTYPE=DATA;
RUN;

Writing the option this way makes it possible to delete different member
types in separate DELETE statements in the same step.

@ To delete all but a few SAS files from a library, write a SAVE statement
listing the members to keep. This example deletes everything from the
WORK library except WORK.RESULT and WORK.FORMATS.
PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=WORK NOLIST NOWARN;
SAVE RESULT FORMATS;
RUN;

@ In SQL, use the DROP TABLE and DROP VIEW statements to delete SAS
data files and SQL views. This example deletes the SAS data file
WORK.OBSOLETE.
PROC SQL;
DROP TABLE WORK.OBSOLETE;

@ To delete all the observations from a SAS data file while keeping the
variables, replace the SAS data file in a data step with a SET statement and a
STOP statement, as shown in this code model.
DATA SAS dataset;
SET SAS dataset;
STOP;
RUN;

Alternatively, in SQL, use the DELETE FROM statement to remove

observations from a SAS data file, as shown in this code model.
PROC SQL;
DELETE FROM SAS dataset;

◆ A SAS dataset is automatically deleted when you replace it with a new

SAS dataset of the same name. This deletion occurs as soon as the new SAS
dataset is successfully written. To avoid accidentally deleting SAS datasets
by replacing them, give each SAS dataset its own name.
66 Professional SAS Programming Shortcuts

◆ A SAS dataset can only replace another SAS dataset of the same kind. An
error condition occurs if a new SAS dataset has the same name as a SAS
dataset of a different kind. It is an error if you attempt to:
• replace a SAS data file with a view
• replace a view with a SAS data file
• replace a view with a different kind of view
To avoid the error, delete or rename the old SAS dataset before you create
the new SAS dataset. Alternatively, use a new name for the new SAS
dataset.