topic Sorting columns individually in SAS Procedures

Sorting columns individually

brophymj — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 19:29:51 GMT

Can you sort a field in a dataset without affecting the order of other fields. Or can you sort multiple fields of a data set independently from each other?

Re: Sorting columns individually

Haikuo — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 19:39:56 GMT

You can't, but you can cheat. But Why?

proc sort data=sashelp.class out=temp(keep=age);

by age;

run;

data want;

set sashelp.class;

set temp;

run;

'class' was sorted by 'name', now the 'age' is also sorted .

Re: Sorting columns individually

SASKiwi — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 19:42:23 GMT

Sorting usually describes changing the order of data rows.

If I understand your questions correctly, they are about changing the order columns/fields within a table - please confirm. If you want to change the order of a field where would you want to place it? First? Last? The 10th field?

An example of what you want would be useful.

Re: Sorting columns individually

Astounding — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 19:47:33 GMT

Sorting in SAS usually refers to changing the order of the rows. The entire row moves as a unit. However ...

If you are interested in changing the values of some of the fields within a single row, you can do that without affecting other fields within the same row:

data want;

set have;

call sortn (hand1, hand2, flop1, flop2, flop3, river, turn);

run;

Use SORTN if your variables are numeric, or use SORTC if your variables are character.

Re: Sorting columns individually

brophymj — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 15:31:32 GMT

Thank you