adding a counter to a data set

[GreggB]

Data set one:

first        last            UID

tom        jones           1

elvis       pressley       2

frank       sinatra         3 

Data set two:

first        last

Ella        Fitzgerald

Doris      Day

I want to combine the 2 data sets and start assigning the UID where data set one leaves off. So, Ella has UID = 4 , Doris has UID = 5  and so on. 

[novinosrin · Accepted solution]

Hi @GreggB  Not sure of your objective, do you mean append as combine??

Data  one;
input (first  last) (:$10.)   UID;
cards;
tom        jones           1
elvis       pressley       2
frank       sinatra         3 
;


data two;
input (first        last) (:$10.);
cards;
Ella        Fitzgerald
Doris      Day
;

data want;
 set one two(in=b);
  if b then uid=_iorc_+1;
 _iorc_=uid;
run;

[PaigeMiller]

I would use

data want;
 set one two(in=b);
  if b then uid=_n_;
run;

or even simpler

data want;
 set one two;
 uid=_n_;
run;

@novinosrin can you explain how using _iorc_ works here? I wouldn't normally think of using it except to check the status of an I/O operation for errors.

@GreggB are the UID numbers in data set ONE always consecutive integers starting with 1?

[novinosrin]

Just like any other freely available variable in a process like you said if and only if when we are not using any I/O operations otherwise _N_ is rather a safe bet. 

The advantage i find in _iorc_ is automatic retain across datastep iterations as opposed to _n_ and i have gotten used to it. 

So Auto retain and auto drop = lazy me  a done deal 🙂