topic Re: Datasets in SAS Programming

Datasets

BrahmanandaRao — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 06:06:13 GMT

Hi guys

Good Morning

using do loops i want to create each observation as one dataset with sashelp.class library

it is a interview question

Re: Datasets

Kurt_Bremser — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 06:23:58 GMT

Correct answer: you don't do it, it is an unnecessary waste of time.

We have dealt with this stupid interview question several times in the last few days, who comes up with such crazy ideas?

Re: Datasets

PaigeMiller — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 11:15:40 GMT

A SAS data step has an implied do-loop, you don't actually code it, but its in there.

Re: Datasets

SASKiwi — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 19:36:26 GMT

Another way to look at these types of dumb questions is would I want to work for such an employer?

Re: Datasets

Kurt_Bremser — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 19:46:10 GMT

Since I'm already on the other side of the table (I recently was responsible for selecting my replacement when I retire), I can positively state that this kind of question would never be part of the interview. I do NOT want to scare the bright candidates away!

Re: Datasets

Patrick — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 20:19:43 GMT

@Kurt_Bremser

I wouldn't ask such a question in an interview but actually how a candidate responds tells you a lot - i.e. are they confident enough in an interview situation to question WHY someone would want to do this?

It also gives you an indication about real SAS experience/understanding of someone - i.e. that you can't create SAS tables during execution time except via the hash output method.

Re: Datasets

ballardw — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 22:55:21 GMT

@BrahmanandaRao wrote:

Hi guys

Good Morning

using do loops i want to create each observation as one dataset with sashelp.class library

it is a interview question

My $0.02

Putting anything in the SASHELP library is poor practice. Your next SAS update or reinstall if needed is likely to remove stuff. I can't tell if that was part of your question or not but incomplete questions get incomplete or possibly off topic answers.

I can see creating report documents of one observation per report but that would not require separate datasets. IMHO multiple reports from one set are easier than multiple reports from multiple data sets.