how to get distinct value after vertical merge

[Alexxxxxxx]

Dear all,

how can I get distinct value by vertical merging

for example 

table a 

A,1

A,1

B,1

table b

A,1

C,1

I expect to get the 

table c

A,1

B,1

C,1

Could you please give me some suggestions about this? 

thanks in advance.

[novinosrin]

proc sql;
create table want as
  select * from a
   union 
   select * from b;
quit

[novinosrin]

data a;
infile cards dsd;
input v1 $ v2 ;
cards;
A,1
A,1
B,1
;
data b;
infile cards dsd;
input v1 $ v2 ;
cards;
A,1
C,1
;
proc sql;
create table want as
  select * from a
   union 
   select * from b;
quit;

[mkeintz · Accepted solution]

If each of your data sets (i.e. tables) is sorted b LETR,NUMB  (the varnames I will assign), you can use the sas data step, as follows:

data a;
  infile datalines dlm=',';
  input letr $1. nmbr ;
datalines;
A,1
A,1
B,1
run;
data b;
  infile datalines dlm=',';
  input letr $1. nmbr ;
datalines;
A,1
C,1
run;

data want;
  set a b;
  by letr nmbr;
  if first.nmbr;
run;

This will be the fastest approach, but it requires each data set to be sorted by LETR/NUMB.

[Alexxxxxxx]

Dear mkeintz,

thanks for your advice,

What should I do if the 'nmbr' variables are different as well? for example,  A,2.

data a;
  infile datalines dlm=',';
  input letr $1. nmbr ;
datalines;
A,1
A,2
B,1
run;
data b;
  infile datalines dlm=',';
  input letr $1. nmbr ;
datalines;
A,1
C,1
run;

 could you give me some suggestions about this?

[mkeintz]

It's a computer program.   Try it with your revised data and see the results.  Then, if something is unexpected, you can point it out and ask why.

[Patrick]

@Alexxxxxxx 

If you're after unique rows from two or more tables then use SQL UNION syntax as already posted by @novinosrin 

proc sql;
create table want as
  select * from a
   union corr
   select * from b;
quit;