using Where and Keep in a set statement

[tanya_henderson]

I am trying to determine if I can combine a keep and a where in a set statement. 

data sf;
set screen (where=(sf_flag='Y') keep = ( cno patno sf_flag) );
run;

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

Yes, that's perfectly possible. I'd just change the order of the two dataset options, as SAS executes the keep first and the where later.

In a dataset option, you can only apply the where to variables that are kept, as apposed to SQL, where you can set a where condition with variables not included in the select.

If you also use a rename= option, the order should be

keep=

rename=

where=

as that is the order in which SAS executes the option, so that the code as written represents the logical order.