> data _null_;
>
> Thanks again. You are right, it was the DELETE
> statement. Although I can't understand why they would
> architect that command to restart a DATA step?!? I
> also need to read up on the STOP command because I
> don't fully understand it's function while in a DO
> loop.
The data step is an implied do while not eof loop. But in the program I showed you the loop was explicitly written. Six of one half dozen kind of thing.
DELETE and RETURN are similar statements
DELETE returns to the top of data step with no output.
RETURN outputs and returns to top of data step, top of data step as in top of implied loop.
RETURN functions differently when used with LINK, and in the presents of explicit OUTPUT statement.
DELETE has a somewhat misleading name as nothing is removed just not output.
STOP stops the data step as soon as it is executed. Inside a DO loop or outside everything is stopped.
There are lots of good papers you can read on how the data step works. Look
at this site.
http://www.lexjansen.com/
I think once you learn a bit more about how it works you will like data step programming, it is very powerfull.