topic Re: data step question in SAS Programming

data step question

asishgautam — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:09:42 GMT

I am reviewing my study guide on 9.3 certification. In chapter 6, there is some discussion about the differences between the DATA Step compile step and execution step. On page 206, the book gives an example of a partial output of the descriptor portion of a data set which occurs after a successful compile stage. One of the things that go into the descriptor portion is the number of observations. I am confused as to how the descriptor portion would have this information when the actual reading of the data step did not occur. I could probably see this happening if the data step is referencing a SAS data set but not if the data step is reading a raw text file.

Re: data step question

MikeZdeb — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:51:10 GMT

Hi ... I have an earlier edition of that book but I imagine that the example is the same.

If you look at the diagram that shows the data set descriptor it shows zero observations and a comment below the diagram stating that the value is zero since the data step has not executed.

Re: data step question

asishgautam — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:25:55 GMT

What you said is mentioned in the book (no observations because the DATA step has not executed). However, the table on page 206 with the title "Data Set Descriptor (Partial)" shows an entry for "Observations" having a value of 9.