topic Re: how to insert empty record between the dataset in SAS Programming

how to insert empty record between the dataset

thanikondharish — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:00:04 GMT

I have sashelp.class and total 19 records .

I have to create one more record it should be empty and record number is 6.

1.....values

2.....values

3....values

4....values

5.....values

6....empty record

7.....values.....

......

Re: how to insert empty record between the dataset

novinosrin — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:02:58 GMT

data want;
set sashelp.class curobs=k;
output;
if k=6 then do;
call missing(of _all_);
output;
end;
run;

Re: how to insert empty record between the dataset

thanikondharish — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:04:49 GMT

May I know what is curobs

Re: how to insert empty record between the dataset

novinosrin — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:05:40 GMT

Basically an option for rownumber/record identifier.

Re: how to insert empty record between the dataset

ed_sas_member — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:36:50 GMT

Hi @thanikondharish

You can also simplify your code by using the iteration number _n_ (internal variable).

NB: if you want to add a missing observation on row #6, you need to specify _n_ = 5.

It is the same for the answer proposed by @novinosrin

data want;
	set sashelp.class;
	output;
	if _n_ = 5 then do;
		call missing(of _all_);
		output;
	end;
run;

Re: how to insert empty record between the dataset

novinosrin — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:54:23 GMT

Not a bad idea. IMHO,, use of "iteration number" in place of record number that's stated in the original objective is vulnerable to incorrect results considering the iteration number can be easily manipulated unlike precise record number. There is often that misconception among many.

Right now, feeling too lazy perhaps being Friday, to demonstrate the impact but a slight and simple WHERE/DELETE/LINK/GOTO/RETURN and more so when processing with techniques like DOW and multidim array can/probably will completely change the course of _N_ vs Record number. One has to be very careful knowing data and objective, but with Record number, it's bullet proof!