if condition is not understood

[arv]

Hello,

I am supposed to read the SAS script and then create mapping document. I understood the whole script except following code-

DATA EMPTSLIP;
MERGE EMPHIST (IN=A) TSLIP (IN=B);
BY ENUM NWTIME;
IF A ;
run;

In the above code "IF A" is not understood. I searched online and found codes like IF A then OUTPUT but didn't find any code like IF A. What is going on there. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

[TomKari · Accepted solution]

SAS has a shortcut in the language.

IF A;

means the same in your context as

IF A THEN OUTPUT;

Personally, I prefer to use the latter to save confusion, but it's a question of programming style.

Tom

[arv]

It make sense because after running the code it just write observation to the data set. Thanks for your help!!