Excluding Variables in PROC COMPARE Using the DROP Dataset Option

When comparing two datasets using PROC COMPARE in SAS, there may be cases where you want to exclude specific variables from the comparison. One efficient way to do this is by using the DROP dataset option. This option allows you to remove certain variables from consideration during the comparison process.

Using the DROP Dataset Option in PROC COMPARE

The DROP dataset option is applied directly to the dataset references in the BASE and COMPARE options of PROC COMPARE. When you use DROP, the specified variables are excluded from the comparison.

Here is the syntax for using the DROP option:

proc compare base=dataset1(drop=var_to_exclude) 
                compare=dataset2(drop=var_to_exclude);
    run;

In this example, var_to_exclude is the name of the variable you want to exclude from both datasets (dataset1 and dataset2) before the comparison is made.

Example: Excluding a Variable from the Comparison

Let's say you have two datasets, sales_2023 and sales_2024, and you want to compare them, but you want to exclude a variable called region from the comparison. Here is how you can do that:

proc compare base=sales_2023(drop=region) 
                compare=sales_2024(drop=region);
    run;

This code ensures that the variable region will not be included in the comparison, while all other variables in the two datasets will be compared.

Excluding Multiple Variables

You can also exclude multiple variables by listing them inside the DROP option, separated by spaces:

proc compare base=sales_2023(drop=region quarter) 
                compare=sales_2024(drop=region quarter);
    run;

In this case, both region and quarter will be excluded from the comparison.

Conclusion

The DROP dataset option is a powerful and simple tool for excluding variables from comparison in PROC COMPARE. It provides flexibility by allowing you to exclude one or more variables without needing to manually specify which variables should be included in the comparison.

By leveraging the DROP option, you can ensure that only relevant variables are considered when comparing datasets, making your SAS programming more efficient and focused.