topic Re: Data Merge Dynamically in SAS Programming

Data Merge Dynamically

Kody_devl — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 12:12:18 GMT

I have this code and it works well (hard coded);

/* Merge Data Tables */

data all_months;

SET data_P1, data_P2 data_P3 data_P4 data_P5 data_P6;

run;

The data tables are built using with a do loop macro based on a user entry of 6 (six periods).

I want to dynamically be able to enter 6 or 12 or 14 or 24 periods and build this data Merge code for the "SET" portion to accomodate the different period options.

How can I use the number of user entered periods to build the merge statement dynamically?

Many Thanks.

Kody_Devl

Re: Data Merge Dynamically

RW9 — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 12:24:22 GMT

Well, I would say that creating multiple datasets in a previous step is a bad idea straight away - hence why you now have this issue. Generally speaking there is rarely a need to split datasets, just assign a grou value and then do processing as a by group. Simplifies coding, makes maintenance easier, and makes further coding simpler.

Now if all your datasets have DATA_P prefix, then you could use that:

data want;

set data_p:;

run;

Re: Data Merge Dynamically

LinusH — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 12:25:53 GMT

First, you are appending, not merging.

Then, you need to build macro logic for this. Perhaps with a %DO loop to generate the data set names dynamically on the SET statement.

Re: Data Merge Dynamically

Astounding — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 13:04:04 GMT

Given that you follow the naming convention you indicated for your data set names ...

Given that you always want a consecutive set of months ...

there is no need to do any complicated programming. SAS has already built the capabilities for you. For example:

data want;

set data_P7 - dataP_24;

run;

Re: Data Merge Dynamically

Kody_devl — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 15:29:40 GMT

This works beautifully. I just pass in &FPer and &LPer and it is now automaitc.

Thank you

Kody_Devl