proc means

[rodolfo_1]

Hello All,

While running next code I realized that if I specify the data or not in the proc means statement, the result and the log is the same, however, I can't find documentation about this behavior, since all the information states that data should be entered, Could you please let me know if this is a normal behaivor?

Thank you in advance.

data VS;
input id sbp dbp sex $ age wt;
datalines;
1 120 80 M 15 115
2 130 70 F 25 180
3 140 100 M 89 170
;
run;

proc means;
run;

*same result if proc means data=VS; is entered;

[Kurt_Bremser]

SAS procedures that require input datasets with a data= option will automatically use the last created dataset if no such option is specified.

See Input Datasets in the documentation.

[rodolfo_1]

Thank you Kurt this information was what I needed.

Regards,

Rodolfo.

[novinosrin]

Please take a look at the below 2 links that gives some insight. Thanks

http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/mcrolref/61885/HTML/default/viewer.htm#a000210371.htm

http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/lrdict/64316/HTML/default/viewer.htm#a000279128.htm

Basically SAS references the most recently created dataset as set in 

_LAST_= System Option 

---

@rodolfo_1 wrote:

Hello All,

While running next code I realized that if I specify the data or not in the proc means statement, the result and the log is the same, however, I can't find documentation about this behavior, since all the information states that data should be entered, Could you please let me know if this is a normal behaivor?

Thank you in advance.

data VS;
input id sbp dbp sex $ age wt;
datalines;
1 120 80 M 15 115
2 130 70 F 25 180
3 140 100 M 89 170
;
run;

proc means;
run;

*same result if proc means data=VS; is entered;

---

[rodolfo_1]

Thank you novinosrin, I'll review this links.

Regards,

Rodolfo.

[Tom]

Seems be documented to me.  Here is link to syntax documentation.

https://documentation.sas.com/?docsetId=proc&docsetTarget=n1qnc9bddfvhzqn105kqitnf29cp.htm&docsetVer...

The DATA= option is listed as optional.

Clicking on that DATA= link goes to this more detailed section:

Clicking on that Input Data Sets link goes to this comment:

Input Data Sets

Many Base SAS procedures require an input SAS data set. You specify the input SAS data set by using the DATA= option in the procedure statement, as in this example:

proc print data=emp;

If you omit the DATA= option, the procedure uses the value of the SAS system option _LAST_=. The default of _LAST_= is the most recently created SAS data set in the current SAS job or session. _LAST_= is described in detail in the SAS Data Set Options: Reference.