keeping first 5 rows of the data

[aarony]

    i want o keep first 5 lines of the data and delete everything else. how may i do so using the data want; set have; run; ?

many thanks,

aaron

[arodriguez · Accepted solution]

Hi Aaron,

you can use the _N_ variable. This variable is the row nuber that appears at the left in the dataset visualisation. To keep the first 5 only must do

data want;

set have;

if _N_<=5;

run;

Keep in mind that a where doesn't work with _N_.

[Haikuo]

While you already have the correct answer, but as they always say, SAS has 6 solutions for every problem ,

To avoid read in all of the data, you could do:

1. Stop reading when it is time,

Date want;

set have;

if _n_ >5 then stop;

run;

2. Just bring in 5:

Date want;

set have (obs=5);

run;

Good luck with your homework,

Haikuo

[aarony]

Thank you so so much both!