topic Re: creating random id's in SAS Programming

creating random id's

Anita_n — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 12:37:48 GMT

Hello all,

am tring to create some random id in sas für about 1600 datasets. I have used most examples I search for but its not working.

I want something like a four integer id e.g. 1045

Can any one help?

Re: creating random id's

PeterClemmensen — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 12:40:38 GMT

I assume that these IDs has to be unique? Should the ID's simply be in a single numeric variable or?

Re: creating random id's

Anita_n — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 12:47:18 GMT

Yes, they should

Re: creating random id's

Ksharp — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 13:03:52 GMT

Try function UUIDGEN()

Re: creating random id's

PeterClemmensen — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 13:07:34 GMT

Here is one way

data test;
    do id=1 to 9999;
        output;
    end;
run;

proc surveyselect data=test
   method=srs n=1600 out=want;
run;

proc datasets lib=work nolist;
    modify want;
        format id z4.;
run;quit;

Re: creating random id's

Anita_n — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 13:28:58 GMT

ok thanks,

let me try an see

Re: creating random id's

Reeza — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 15:04:52 GMT

Here's the long winded approach I usually use.

/*This program demonstrates how to create a basic anonymized 
key for a unique identifier. Ensure you set the value in CALL
STREAMINIT()/RANDOM_SEED macro variable to ensure you can 
replicate the keys if needed*/

%let random_seed = 30;

*list of unique values;
proc sql; 
create table unique_list as
select distinct name
from sashelp.class;
quit;

*add random values;
data random_values;
set unique_list;
call streaminit(&random_seed.);
rand = rand('normal', 50, 10);
run;

*sort;
proc sort data=random_values;
by rand;
run;

*Assign ID to N, note this is a character format;
data ID_key_pair;
set random_values;
label = put(_n_, z5.);

fmtname = 'anon_fmt';
type='C';
start=name;
run;

*Create a format;
proc format cntlin=id_key_pair;
run;

*Create dataset with anonymized IDs;
data want;
set sashelp.class;
RandomID = put(name, $anon_fmt.);
*drop name;
run;

@Anita_n wrote:

Hello all,

am tring to create some random id in sas für about 1600 datasets. I have used most examples I search for but its not working.

I want something like a four integer id e.g. 1045

Can any one help?

Re: creating random id's

ErikLund_Jensen — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 17:06:17 GMT

Hi @Anita_n

You need a 4-digit ID, but I wonder why you want it created as a random number in addition to being unique. How do you plan to use the ID, since a simple sequence number will not work?

But if this is essential, you could create a random number, sort the data set on the random number, so the observarions are shuffled like a card deck, and then replace the random number with a sequence number as a 4-digit ID.

* Test data set;
data test;
    do orig_sequence = 1 to 9999;
        output;
    end;
run;


%macro AddRandomID(ds, dsout);
	* Add a random bumber;
	data w1; set &ds;
		random_number = ranuni(5);
	run;

	* Sort by random number;
	proc sort data=w1; by random_number;
	run;

	* Replace random number with sequence number as ID variable;
	data &dsout; set w1(drop=random_number);
		format ID z4.;
		ID = _N_;
	run;

	* Sort back to original sequence to demonstrate the "randomness";
	proc sort data=&dsout; by orig_sequence;
	run;
%mend;
%AddRandomID(test,test_id);