Generic response to sometext.othertext:  typically the most used expression in SAS with a dot in the middle is the LIBNAME.DATASET syntax element. So SASHELP.CLASS refers to a data set named CLASS in the Library named SASHELP. Specifically it is a small data set supplied by SAS which is typically used to demonstrate simple(ish) manipulations of data, modeling, reporting or graphing.   So if you see this in a DATA= on a procedure that is the name of the data set(or less commonly data view) in the specified library the procedure is to use. If it appears in a SET, MERGE, MODIFY, UPDATE statement in a DATA step, that is the name of a dataset in that libarary. If using Proc SQL and it appears in a FROM clause it is the source of data.   There are a number of functions related to data set manipulation that use this as well.   Less common it might relate to a CATALOG which stores all kinds of SAS stuff but usage will be different. ... View more

One example of a program that doesn't need to replace missing values with zero is the one you posted. You can get the same result by replacing everything from the array statement to the end with: var9 = sum(0, var4, var8); ... View more

Thanks for all this. I have to think about each piece to digest it. I think it would be easier to understand. I didn't write the code and I was trying to understand it to be able to use it later. Well, I understood Data _null_; doesn't do anything, it only writes on the log. Blue Blue ... View more

The data _null_ allows you use SAS coding in data step that does not require creating a new data set. Expensive pocket calculator:   Data _null_; x = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5; put x= ; run; Puts the result to the log   Write to the results window: Data _null_; file print; x = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5; put x= ; run; Write to an external file: Data _null_; file "c:\folder\sometextfile.txt"; x = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5; put x= ; run; With data on a SET statement then you can write any of that out, such as create custom file layout that Proc Print wouldn't. 30 years ago I worked for an agency that used this approach to write text markup that our fancy (read big as car) high production laser printer used to make "nice" tables and graphics that we called "Proc AnnualReport".   This usage has been expanded with the File ODS and/ or the Report writing interface. Create macro variables with Call symputx/symput. Create calls to Call Execute that stacks code into the execution buffer for execution after the data step terminates. Make noise  (I used to use this to tell me when some longish running jobs were finished ) data _null_; call sound(523,2000); run; Generally do something that does not require creating an output data set when you want to use data or fixed elements of coding.       ... View more

Read @japelin 's post. ... View more

This is SAS name literal 'some text string'n - n here indicates that text string in quotes is a variable name. ... View more

Yes See the generated code. ... View more

It has a %Mend, I didn't put it on my first post. Thanks for the response. Blue Blue ... View more

Thanks for your all inputs that got me closer to what I was looking for. Blue Blue Sky ... View more

Yes, I got what I wanted by referring to this link. Regards, Blue Sky ... View more

Hello Oligolas, I think your response is what I am looking for. Thanks for all your effort. I am trying to mark it as a solution, it seems someone has done it prior to me. Respectfully, Blue Sky! ... View more