keep & drop

[deleted_user]

please tell me that there is any difference, when we write keep & drop in option and procidure statement

[Doc_Duke]

Except for their being opposites, there is no functional difference. A decision about which to use is more about programming style than technical substance.

[sbb]

A consideration is that the DROP= is honored over the KEEP= when both parameters are coded for a specified SAS variable.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

[deleted_user]

keep and drop options are specified in the datastep or proc , the difference is when we write options in datastep it will be permanent to the dataset but where as in proc , it will not be permanent and stays affect fot that particular session only. Message was edited by: reena

[sbb]

Of course, this presumes the PROC and whether or not there is a permanent output file generated, not just a file going to the WORK or SASUSER allocation.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

[deleted_user]

hi sbb,
I didn't get your answer.Could you explain it briefly.

Thanks,
regards,

bina

[sbb]

It is very much possible to affect a SAS permanent library when using the DROP= and/or KEEP= parameter, if you have WRITE authority to your SAS permanent database. This capability will be dependent on the user's session and their authority permissions. For example, consider this code:

PROC SORT DATA=PERMIN.MASTER OUT=PERMOUT.MASTER (DROP=X Y Z);
BY ....;
RUN;

If the OUT= (here PERMOUT) is a permanent library, not just for your session, the result is not going to be just for your session.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

[deleted_user]

Thanks to all. I got my answer.