Compare two datasets and find the non matching records

[David_Billa]

I would like to compare two datasets and find the non matching records. In below example, both the datasets has same Observation and I believe only order of the records should be differ in both the datasets. When I run the following code, it says 4096 records are differ in both the datasets.

I would like to know whether proc compare will consider the order of the record also to be identical and I wanted to the best method to compare two datasets irrespective of order of the record. If there is a difference, I want to see the records which differs.

proc compare base=test compare=test1;
run;

%put &sysinfo.;

Log:

26         proc compare base=test compare=test1;
27         run;

NOTE: There were 5985917 observations read from the data set WORK.TEST.
NOTE: There were 5985917 observations read from the data set WORK.TEST1.
NOTE: At least one W.D format was too small for the number to be printed. The decimal may be shifted by the "BEST" format.
NOTE: PROCEDURE COMPARE used (Total process time):
      real time           28.39 seconds
      cpu time            27.54 seconds
      

28         
29         %put &sysinfo.;
SYMBOLGEN:  Macro variable SYSINFO resolves to 4096

[PeterClemmensen]

Yes, PROC COMPARE considers observation order. Sort your two data sets by the same variable and compare again. In my book, PROC COMPARE is still the best tool for the job.

See this small example

data a;
input var1 var2;
datalines;
1 2
3 4
;

data b;
input var1 var2;
datalines;
3 4
1 2
;

proc compare base=a comp=b;
run;

[David_Billa]

OK, how and where can I difference records in the output?

[HIRO2020 · Accepted solution]

How about the following

data a;
input ID var1 var2;
datalines;
001 1 2
002 2 2
003 1 2
004 1 2
006 1 3
;
run;

data b;
input ID var1 var2;
datalines;
001 1 2
002 1 2
003 1 2
004 1 3
007 2 2
;
run;

proc compare base=a comp=b noprint OUTNOEQUAL OUT=COMP ;
by ID;
run;

[David_Billa]

I'm unable to understand the data in the Output dataset COMP.

[Kurt_Bremser]

A description of the OUT= dataset is found here.