topic How to create dumy dataset with only attrib statement in datastep in New SAS User

How to create dumy dataset with only attrib statement in datastep

Anv_SAS — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 14:57:26 GMT

Hi all,

I am trying to create a zero dataset with DATASTEP, which contains only attrib information or we can assign/modify attributes of variables.

Below is the code:

data x;
attrib
x label="X" length=$25.;
stop;
run;

But I'm getting below warning

15274 data x;
15275 attrib
15276 x label="X" length=$25.;
15277 stop;
15278 run;

NOTE: Variable x is uninitialized.
NOTE: The data set WORK.X has 0 observations and 1 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.04 seconds
cpu time 0.00 seconds

Please anyone can help me in fixing this.

Regards,

Anv_SAS

Re: How to create dumy dataset with only attrib statement in datastep

Kurt_Bremser — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 15:06:07 GMT

This is just a NOTE, not a WARNING.

If you want to prevent it, assign a value to x before the stop statement.

Re: How to create dumy dataset with only attrib statement in datastep

Anv_SAS — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 15:28:14 GMT

Thank you KurtBremser,

We cannot assign value to x. Only can using attrib statement, is this possible using datastep. Do we have any other way to this.

Re: How to create dumy dataset with only attrib statement in datastep

FreelanceReinh — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 16:31:10 GMT

Hi @Anv_SAS,

Put the assignment statement (or CALL MISSING, etc.) after the STOP statement. Then it will not be executed, i.e., you really don't assign a value. Nevertheless, the note in the log will no longer appear because the compiler sees an assignment.

Edit: Alternatively you can use a RETAIN statement with an initial value if you prefer a declarative statement.

Re: How to create dumy dataset with only attrib statement in datastep

Kurt_Bremser — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 17:44:10 GMT

The stop statement prevents any writing of values to the dataset, so it does not matter what you assign to the variable.

Re: How to create dumy dataset with only attrib statement in datastep

Tom — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 21:19:40 GMT

Adding the variables to an ARRAY will prevent the message. But you need a separate array for the numeric and character variables.

You can also use the CALL MISSING() function.

110   data x;
111     attrib x label="X" length=$25;
112     array _ _character_;
113     stop;
114   run;

NOTE: The data set WORK.X has 0 observations and 1 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.03 seconds
      cpu time            0.03 seconds


115
116   data x;
117     attrib x label="X" length=$25;
118     stop;
119     call missing(of _all_);
120   run;

NOTE: The data set WORK.X has 0 observations and 1 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.03 seconds
      cpu time            0.01 seconds

PS There is no need to include a decimal point when specifying a length. Lengths can only be integers.

Re: How to create dumy dataset with only attrib statement in datastep

Reeza — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 04:13:52 GMT

Why the requirement for the attrib statement? You can definitely creating empty data sets without any values, not sure the attributes statement is the way to do that though.

Re: How to create dumy dataset with only attrib statement in datastep

Ksharp — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 10:36:53 GMT

Then give X a initial value(missing value).


data x;
attrib x label="X" length=$25.;
x=' ';
stop;
run;

OR Try PROC SQL



proc sql;
create table x (
x char(25) label='X'
);
quit;