BookmarkSubscribeRSS Feed
Simon80
Calcite | Level 5

I was wondering if someone can explain what "control" means in the following:


"By default, at the end of the DATA step, the values in the program data vector are written to the data set as an observation, control returns to the top of the DATA step..."


It appears to have something to do with the flow of processing, but what is control? The computer processor?  Thank you for your help!

3 REPLIES 3
Tom
Super User Tom
Super User

Program control is old school terminology for what part of the program is currently executing.  So a branching statement like an IF or a GOTO changes program control.  Look at this USENET post from 1983 for an example usage.

The Story of Mel

RichardinOz
Quartz | Level 8

In simple terms SAS has come to the end of the process for the data currently in the PDV and now will start again at the top of the data step code with the next refresh of data in the PDV.

Note that statements like Format and Length, which relate to the configuration of the data, and those like Retain and Array, which relate to the configuration of the process, are not executed each time.  They only need to be used once, before the first loop through the program code.

Richard

Simon80
Calcite | Level 5

Tom and RichardinOz,

Thank you for your responses.  They were very helpful!

sas-innovate-2024.png

Join us for SAS Innovate April 16-19 at the Aria in Las Vegas. Bring the team and save big with our group pricing for a limited time only.

Pre-conference courses and tutorials are filling up fast and are always a sellout. Register today to reserve your seat.

 

Register now!

How to Concatenate Values

Learn how use the CAT functions in SAS to join values from multiple variables into a single value.

Find more tutorials on the SAS Users YouTube channel.

Click image to register for webinarClick image to register for webinar

Classroom Training Available!

Select SAS Training centers are offering in-person courses. View upcoming courses for:

View all other training opportunities.

Discussion stats
  • 3 replies
  • 802 views
  • 9 likes
  • 3 in conversation