compare data sets and extract the delta comparing all the variables

[Sir_Highbury]

Dear experts,

I am looking fo an effective way (I assume proc compare or proc sql) to compare 2 data sets. The second data set should contain almost the same data of the previou one (some small changes) and additional observations.

My aim is to get the complete delta between the two data sets, i.e. the changes to the existing data and the new ones.

Any suggestion? Thanks a lot, SH.

[RW9 · Accepted solution]

Well, proc compare is the obvious choice, you can send the output to a dataset, and then further process it for a nice output.  I find its sometimes a bit difficult to review though.  I would suggest you try the two options, sometimes, if I want to see data in one and not the other i might use SQL:

proc sql;
  select *
  from   HAVE1
  except 
  select * 
  from   HAVE2;
quit;

Its a bit difficult as its very much a matter of preference, what you want the output to look like, what kind of level of checking etc.  Could be merging one to the other and then doing processing in datastep/sql would be helpful, i.e. if values are similar/match but don't logically etc.