topic Re: proc merge in SAS Programming

proc merge

HeatherNewton — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 05:39:28 GMT

data fruit;
merge apple and orange;
by size;
run;

proc sort data=apple;
by size;
run;

proc sort data=orange;
by size;
run;

if I have the code above, is the sorting gonna be done after merging or it can automatically sort first as I am aware that is sas sorting must be done before merging .... unfortunately the code I am encounterin is like the above, I am puzzled if it needs changing or sas would do sorting before merging

Re: proc merge

japelin — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 05:44:25 GMT

If you want to merge, you must do SORT first.

proc sort data=apple;
by size;
run;

proc sort data=orange;
by size;
run;

data fruit;
merge apple orange;
by size;
run;

Also, you do not need "and" in merge statement. Just describe them space-separated.

Re: proc merge

Kurt_Bremser — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 05:46:38 GMT

There is no PROC MERGE, so your subject line is misleading.

The data step BY(!) will only work if all incoming datasets are properly sorted. This means that your following SORT steps are unnecessary.

Re: proc merge

Amir — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:59:50 GMT

Hi,

Yes you are correct, data sets need to be in the same sort order as the variables in the by statement, so this will typically necessitate the data to be sorted before merging, unless the data was received in the required sort order, in which case the proc sort steps are not required at all (before or after the merge).

Kind regards,

Amir.