SAS Base Question

[jc3992]

Hello everyone,

I wonder why we cannot select answer (a) for the following question?

Thank you!

13.) What is true about array variables?

• They are temporary variables created in datastep.
• They are output in dataset.
• Can contain numeric and character values at same time.
• Cannot be used in assignment statement.

Answer: b

[PaigeMiller]

I don't see answer (a) anywhere, do you mean the answer that is first under the question? If so, that is not correct because array variables are not temporary.

[jc3992]

So I guess "array" is temporary but the array variables are not.

Was this what you meant?

Thank you!

[PaigeMiller]

The variables are not temporary.

[Reeza]

If you declare an array the variables are cxreated in the output data set. 

Not temporary, unless explicitly specified.

data want;
array a(20);
run;

proc contents data=want;run;

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@jc3992 wrote:

So I guess "array" is temporary but the array variables are not.

Was this what you meant?

Thank you!

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[ballardw · Accepted solution]

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@jc3992 wrote:

Hello everyone,

I wonder why we cannot select answer (a) for the following question?

Thank you!

13.) What is true about array variables?

• They are temporary variables created in datastep.
• They are output in dataset.
• Can contain numeric and character values at same time.
• Cannot be used in assignment statement.

Answer: b

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Log result of pretty minimal program:

2598  data work.example;
2599     array a{5};
2600  run;

NOTE: The data set WORK.EXAMPLE has 1 observations and 5 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.01 seconds
      cpu time            0.01 seconds

The first note following the data step shows that the output data set has 5 variables. Exercise for the interested reader is what are the variable names and why?

It is possible to create temporary array variables though:

2601  data work.example;
2602     array a{5} _temporary_ (1,2,3,4,5);
2603  run;

NOTE: The data set WORK.EXAMPLE has 1 observations and 0 variables.

Of course a data set with no variables is not terribly interesting for most purposes.