Handbook of SAS® DATA Step Programming

To write an accomplished program in the DATA step of SAS®, programmers must understand programming logic and know how to implement and even create their own programming algorithm. Handbook of SAS® DATA Step Programming shows readers how best to manage and manipulate data by using the DATA step. The book helps novices avoid common mistakes resulting from a lack of understanding fundamental and unique SAS programming concepts. It explains that learning syntax does not solve all problems; rather, a thorough comprehension of SAS processing is needed for successful programming. The author also guides readers through a programming task. In most of the examples, the author first presents strategies and steps for solving the problem, then offers a solution, and finally gives a more detailed explanation of the solution. Understanding the DATA steps, particularly the program data vector (PDV), is critical to proper data manipulation and management in SAS. This book helps SAS programmers thoroughly grasp the concept of DATA step processing and write accurate programs in the DATA step. Numerous supporting materials, including data sets and programs used in the text, are available on the book’s CRC Press web page.

Introduction to SASSAS Program and LanguageReading DATA into SAS Creating and Modifying VariablesBase SAS ProceduresSubsetting Data by Selecting Variables Changing the Appearance of Data Creating Variables Conditionally The IF-THEN/ELSE Statement Executing One of Several Statements Modifying the IF-THEN/ELSE Statement with the Assignment Statement Understanding How theDATA Step Works DATA Step Processing Overview Retaining the Value of Newly Created Variables Conditional Processing in the DATA Step Debugging Techniques BY-Group Processing in the DATA Step Introduction to BY-Group Processing Applications Utilizing BY-Group Processing Writing Loops in the DATA Step Implicit and Explicit LoopsUtilizing Loops to Create Samples Using Looping to Read a List of External Files Array Processing Introduction to Array ProcessingFunctions and Operators Related to Array Processing Some Array Applications Applications That Use Multi-Dimensional Arrays Combining Data Sets Vertically Combining Data Sets Horizontally Combining Data Sets Data Input and Output Introduction to Reading and Writing Text FilesReading Text Files Creating Text Files Data Step Functions Introduction to Functions and CALL Routines Date and Time FunctionsCharacter Variables Functions for Converting Variable Types Useful SAS Procedures Using the SORT Procedure to Eliminate Duplicate Observations Using the COMPARE Procedure to Compare the Contents of Two Data Sets Restructuring Data Sets Using the TRANSPOSE Procedure Creating the User-Defined Format Using the FORMAT ProcedureUsing the OPTIONS Procedure to Modify SAS System Options References Exercises appear at the end of each chapter.

Arthur Li is a biostatistician at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Los Angeles County, California. He is also a part-time statistical programming instructor at the University of Southern California, where he received an MS in biostatistics. He often gives presentations and seminars on DATA step programming and statistical analysis using SAS software at SAS conferences.