topic Re: Sorting is not correct in SAS Programming

Sorting is not correct

znhnm — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:32:16 GMT

I had a char variable in my dataset where I changed it to be numeric. When I sort the dataset by this new numeric variable, the sort is not quite right. What I mean is that, to some point, the sort is correct but then, it has a record that does not fit the sort order than another "correct" sort start.

For example:

20
21
22
23
24
25
10
11
12
13

What ould cause this and how to solve this?

Re: Sorting is not correct

PeterClemmensen — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:34:39 GMT

Can you post the code or some come that resembles your problem?

Are you sure your sort only by the numeric variable? And are you sure that the variable is actually numeric? Is the data formated?

Re: Sorting is not correct

ballardw — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:33:38 GMT

Very likely something related to your data.

Instructions here: https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Communities-Library/How-to-create-a-data-step-version-of-your-data-AKA-generate/ta-p/258712 will show how to turn an existing SAS data set into data step code that can be pasted into a forum code box using the </> icon or attached as text to show exactly what you have and that we can test code against.

Re: Sorting is not correct

SASKiwi — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 20:23:05 GMT

Run this program on your dataset and check the sort information:

proc contents data = MyDataset;
run;

It should look similar to this:

If your results don't show any sort information then your SORT didn't work.