topic Assistance with SAS Data Step Merge Issue in New SAS User

Assistance with SAS Data Step Merge Issue

alexben — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:35:27 GMT

Hi everyone,

I'm having trouble with a data step merge in SAS. Specifically, when I merge two datasets using the MERGE statement, I get unexpected results. The merge key seems correct, but the output isn’t as expected.

Re: Assistance with SAS Data Step Merge Issue

PeterClemmensen — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:38:32 GMT

Please show us your code and describe how your result is different from your expectations.

Re: Assistance with SAS Data Step Merge Issue

PaigeMiller — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:23:26 GMT

In addition to what @PeterClemmensen , show us (a portion of) your data so we can see what you are seeing. Please provide the data as working SAS data step code (examples and instructions) and NOT as a file attachment.

Re: Assistance with SAS Data Step Merge Issue

ballardw — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 14:22:41 GMT

Did you read the log? Some of the common "issues" with Merge create specific messages in the log.

At least describe the unexpected results, we can't read your mind.

Or was this post just an excuse to post an advertising link or whatever that dollartree thing is?

MERGE in SAS, especially in a data step, has a very specific meaning and some people use the term "merge" without much detail of what is expected. Merge is a sort of side-by-side combination, typically using one or more variables to match records, to bring variables from multiple sets together.

Limitations on the SAS Merge include but are not limited to:

Only one data set can have multiple observations with the same values of BY variables and get expected results.

Variables with same names that are not used for matching on a BY statement will have only one variable with a value similar to updating data. There are some complexities involved.

Minor differences of values such as leading space " John" vs "John", or case "John" "JohN" are not equal and records won't match.

And sometimes people want to APPEND data, stack vertically, but use MERGE because of not being familiar with the difference in SAS.

So code of what was attempted and a clear description of what was expected are important to answer this sort of question. Example data is the best way to provide start data, expected and actual results.