topic Re: Sorting data Alternative methods in SAS Programming

Sorting data Alternative methods

BrahmanandaRao — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 06:16:13 GMT

Hi Good Morning

Any alternative methods are there sorting the data along with below methods

1.Proc sort

2.Hast Object

3.Proc Sql ; Order by Clause

data sort;
set sashelp.class;
run;


data _null_;
set sort;
sort_data=cats(('Proc sort data=sort;by sex; run;'));
call execute(sort_data);
run;

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 07:08:27 GMT

Statistical procedures like FREQ or MEANS will sort their outputs, REPORT will sort the result along the variables defined as GROUP.

There's lots of places in SAS where sorting takes place, but for sorting whole datasets, you've listed the tools to use.

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

BrahmanandaRao — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 08:31:22 GMT

proc freq and proc means and reports how to sort

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 08:49:13 GMT

@BrahmanandaRao wrote:

proc freq and proc means and reports how to sort

As I said, they automatically sort the results, not datasets. Just play around with them.

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

PeterClemmensen — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:47:50 GMT

You could use an index

proc copy in=sashelp out=work memtype=data;
   select class;
run;
 
proc datasets library=work nolist;
   modify class;
      index delete _all_;
      index create name;
run;quit;
 
data SortIndex;
   set class;
   by name;
run;

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

Ksharp — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:06:34 GMT

If you have big table, try this one .

data F M;
set sashelp.class;
select(sex);
when('F') output F;
when('M') output M;
otherwise;
end;
run;

data sort;
 set F M;
run;

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

BrahmanandaRao — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:24:02 GMT

Hi Sharp
Than you for your smart solution
Suppose we have have sort thru diferrent N no of customer ID s then how can we do this method

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:31:56 GMT

Supply usable example data, so we can show you.

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:36:23 GMT

But note that @Ksharp's method is only feasible for variables with low cardinality. If you try that with a million distinct customers, you will run out of file handles for the datasets.

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

PaigeMiller — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:41:34 GMT

Here we have a situation that is quite common in the forums, where the focus is so tightly on the mechanics of performing a task (in this case sorting), that we don't understand the bigger problem. This is the XY problem and leads to inefficient dialog and sub-optimal solutions.

The larger problem that has led to this emphasis on sorting is never explained, and so we are just shooting in the dark to propose solutions. Perhaps @BrahmanandaRao could explain the problem which leads to this interest in sorting methods, and perhaps then the best solution will be obvious, and we won't waste our time proposing or discussing solutions that aren't helpful in this case.

Re: Sorting data Alternative methods

Ksharp — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 12:45:14 GMT

Yes. As Kurt pointed out. Show us some sample data .