topic Re: selecting variables in SAS Programming

selecting variables

DivyaGadde — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:37:39 GMT

Hello,

I have dataset A(around 180 variables) with a list of variables that needs to be flagged in another data set B(a huge dataset with millions of records).

Dataset A data set B

A A B C D

C 10 20 30 40

I needed something like :

dataset needed: dataset c

A C D

10 30 40

Thank you for all your help and guidance!

Re: selecting variables

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:44:48 GMT

Use a KEEP statement or a KEEP= dataset option.

Re: selecting variables

PaigeMiller — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:45:35 GMT

proc sql noprint;
    select distinct varname into :varnames separated by ' ' from a;
quit;
data c;
    set b(keep=&varnames);
run;

This assumes (because you didn't tell us) that the variable name in Data Set A is VARNAME.

Re: selecting variables

novinosrin — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 16:17:53 GMT

HI @DivyaGadde This is a good question to learn and apply the SET Operators with CORR(corresponding variables) append aka UNION. Of course, you need a slight data processing to get the needed variables in horizontal. Also, for assigning datatypes, you may have to use PROC DATASETS for accurate results.

Example using your sample-


data a;
input vars $;
cards;
A
C
D
;

data b;
input a b c d;
cards;
10 20 30 40
;

proc transpose data=a out=need_vars(drop=_name_);
id vars;
run;

proc sql;
 create table want as
 select *
 from need_vars
  union all corr
 select * from b;
quit;