Help comparing two tables and only outputing if there are differences

[since_92_yahoo_com]

I am sort of a novice SAS user. I was wondering what would be the best way to compare the two tables and only output if there were differences in the data from the two table. I tried using the below code but due to my tables having multiple variables that need to be checked. The sort by one variable is not producing the intended results.

DATA OT_2_current;

  MERGE OT_2_new (IN=T1) OT_2_old (IN=T2);

  BY equip_unit_init_cd;

IF T1 AND NOT T2 THEN OUTPUT OT_2_current;

RUN;

[Reeza]

Look into proc compare.

[RichardinOz]

Another option is to use the EXCEPT set operator in Proc SQL.

See Base SAS(R) 9.2 Procedures Guide

Either the columns must be in the same order in both tables or you should user the CORRESPONDING keyword

You can get the unmatched records in table first using something like this (untested)

Proc SQL ;

     Create table firstonly as

          Select * from first

               Except corr

          Select * from second

     ;

Quit ;

Then get the records in the second table not matched in the first by interchanging 'first' and 'second' in the code.

Richard

Message was edited by: Richard Carson