Proc Datasets

[Saket_90]

Hi All,

I am new to SAS hence can someone help me to understand how is Proc Dataset diiferent from Proc Contents, Proc copy, proc append as it has all the capability.

Also Which one is between proc dataset and (proc Contents, Proc copy, proc append).

Thanks and regards,

Saket

[LinusH · Accepted solution]

Yes, they overlap somewhat in capabilities. When it does, it's matter of personal liking which PROC to chose.

Generally, PROC DATASETS lets you change data set attributes, including indexes/constraints.

PROC CONTENTS is doing only reports.

PROC COPY/APPEND works on physical data (and yes, you could do similar things in DATASETS).

To add, you could many of these things in PROC SQL as well...

[ballardw]

Proc datasets also lets you change variable attributes such as format and label or rename variables.