topic Re: Add a variable to a data set while preserving the audit trail in SAS Programming

Add a variable to a data set while preserving the audit trail

Sasuser52 — Wed, 20 May 2020 17:17:58 GMT

Dear SAS-Community,

is there a way to add a variables to a data set and preserve the audit trail?

data test;

set test;

new = 0;

run;

==> variable 'new' is added, but audit trail is lost

data test;

modify test;

new = 0;

run;

==> audit trail is preserved, but variable 'new' is lost

Thank you!

Re: Add a variable to a data set while preserving the audit trail

ballardw — Wed, 20 May 2020 18:19:16 GMT

What do you think the purpose of an audit trail is?

Cheating on something in this fashion for one data set would make me extremely suspicious of any data in your shop, especially if formal audits are ever done.

I suggest going back in process so that the next time this is needed the variable is created at the same time the original test data set is.

Re: Add a variable to a data set while preserving the audit trail

Sasuser52 — Thu, 21 May 2020 13:02:21 GMT

Thank you for your answer 😊. I can assure you that I do not have the intention to cheat nor are any authorities involved. The audit trail can record the addition of a variable. In my case this is not necessary. For me it would be ok to suspend the audit trail, add the variable and afterwards resume the recording.