1.  While the "/* */" combination works fine, it is not a good idea to use it for comments or headers.  It inteferes when you wish to comment out a section of code for testing purposes. 2.  I prefer to use the "****;" method, both for headers and in-code comments. 3.  A good header will give the program name and path, the creator and date, the purpose of the program, input and output file(s) and path(s), macros defined/used, marco variables created in the program and their purpose. 4.  It is essential to have a MODIFICATION section of the header to keep track of all the edits made 5.  A "run instructions" section is also a good idea. Hope this helps. ... View more

One of the basics of program efficiency is how long it takes the system to compile the code.  SAS is no exception - that is why the best code is the simplest code from an efficiency standpoint.  Patrick's solution is, of course, the simplest and the most efficient.  We SAS programmers don't pride ourselves so much on the complexity and volume of our code  as we pride ourselves on how fast the code processes.  Also, I have found by bitter experience that the more complex I try to make my code (e.g. do as much as possible in one step) the more probable I will make an error.  Just a word of caution.! ... View more

Tom is correct.  In point of fact, since the pass-through facility sends raw, or native, SQL to the data base nothing that is strictly SAS will work.  I do not have the capability at the moment to do any testing so I don't know which would be the most efficient but you have three choices:  (1)  Run the query and then the data step to join your data sets, (2) do as Tom suggested (if possible) and put the SAS data set in a macro variable and use that in your query and (3) don't use the pass-through facility - that would enable you to call from both the Oracle table and the existing SAS data set - SAS would determine which part(s) of the query to pass to the data  base.  I am guessing (3) might be the most efficient in the long run but do not know. ... View more

I'm sorry for jumping in here, Sekher, but I wanted to ask thebittersea to explain the difference between time-series and response. I'm going to be doing some heavy-duty analysis, probably using ETS, and some forecasting/trending and it would help to know the difference between those two terms. Thanks ... View more

Cynthia, a comment if it's okay. I have copied your code on two of the threads so far and pasted them first into a SAS program editor. It wouldn't run because the lines were over 960 characters. I then pasted it into Notepad and wrapped and when I brought the notepad file into SAS DSM it was the same result. Do I have to retype all of ti? ... View more