BookmarkSubscribeRSS Feed
Ronein
Onyx | Level 15

Hello

I would like to retain the value of column Z for each customer.

The input data set has  2 columns: ID ,Z

1 10
1 15
1 20
2 50
2 45
2 55
3 40
3 42
3 38

The desired data set will have the following columns ID,Z,First_Z with following values:

1 10 10
1 15 10
1 20 10
2 50 50
2 45 50
2 55 50
3 40 40
3 42 40
3 38 40

What is the way to do it using Retain statement?

Data tbl;
input ID Z;
cards;
1 10
1 15
1 20
2 50
2 45
2 55
3 40
3 42
3 38
;
run;
2 REPLIES 2
Jagadishkatam
Amethyst | Level 16
proc sort data=tbl;
by id;
run;

data want;
set tbl;
by id;
retain newvar;
if first.id then newvar=z;
run;
Thanks,
Jag
PeterClemmensen
Tourmaline | Level 20
Data tbl;
input ID Z;
cards;
1 10
1 15
1 20
2 50
2 45
2 55
3 40
3 42
3 38
;
run;

data want;
   set tbl;
   by ID;
   if first.ID then First_Z=Z;
   retain First_Z;
run;

sas-innovate-2026-white.png



April 27 – 30 | Gaylord Texan | Grapevine, Texas

Registration is open

Walk in ready to learn. Walk out ready to deliver. This is the data and AI conference you can't afford to miss.
Register now and lock in 2025 pricing—just $495!

Register now

How to Concatenate Values

Learn how use the CAT functions in SAS to join values from multiple variables into a single value.

Find more tutorials on the SAS Users YouTube channel.

SAS Training: Just a Click Away

 Ready to level-up your skills? Choose your own adventure.

Browse our catalog!

Discussion stats
  • 2 replies
  • 853 views
  • 0 likes
  • 3 in conversation