delete observations

[CharlesR]

Hello, First time here. I have a data set where i would like to remove observations which equal a particular value of a variable. Here's what i've got:

data st.Def_2008;
delete all where (ResultType=77);
run;

Here's the error i get:
ERROR 79-322: Expecting a ;.

ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

Help?

[andreas_lds]

You should read the "SAS 9.2 Language Reference: Concepts, Second Edition", especially the chapter about "DATA step concepts".

Link: http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/lrcon/62955/HTML/default/viewer.htm#/documentation/cdl/e...

[Ksharp]

> data st.Def_2008;
> delete all where (ResultType=77);

Why not use 'not' operation symbol.

data st.Def_2008;
where ResultType ne 77 ;

[sbb]

There definitely needs to be more substance to the DATA step - either a SET (providing an input SAS member) or some type of assignment statements to derive one or more SAS variables and then use an IF THEN DELETE; or some similar-result oriented coding technique.

However, as was suggested, the SAS DOC and other supplemental technical reference material hosted at SAS.COM support website will be quite useful to the original poster.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

[Ksharp]

Thanks . Sbb.
There are more things i have to learn.And also forget SasKiwi's right code.:(

[FredrikE]

Try sql instead:

proc sql;
delete *
from st.Def_2008
where ResultType=77
;
quit;

[CharlesR]

Thanks so much for all the help everyone! Proc SQL seems like what I'm really looking for! I have multiple situations to eliminate observations and it's what is easiest for me to get a handle on.

[SASKiwi]

The equivalant DATA step logic is:

data st.Def_2008;
set st.Def_2008;
if ResultType=77 then delete;
run;

The advantage of the DATA step is you can do a lot more in the same step with only one pass of the data than you can in SQL, for example create more than one output dataset containing different results.

[FredrikE]

One advantage with proc sql is that index is kept and that you don't rewrite the table, useful when working with larga ds...

[Anilsk]

Just try this code:

data st.Def_2008; /*Destination dataset */
set st.Def_2008; /*Source dataset*/
if ResultType=77 then delete;

It should delete that particular value from the dataset.

[sbb]

Also consider using a WHERE statement, if appropriate, for efficiency.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.