Unleashing the Power of PROC DATASETS in SAS

The PROC DATASETS procedure is a versatile and efficient tool within SAS for managing datasets. Often described as the "Swiss Army Knife" of SAS procedures, it allows users to perform a variety of tasks such as renaming, deleting, modifying attributes, appending datasets, and much more, all while consuming fewer system resources compared to traditional data steps. In this article, we’ll explore key use cases, functionality, and examples of PROC DATASETS, illustrating why it should be part of every SAS programmer's toolkit.

1. Why Use PROC DATASETS?

Unlike procedures like PROC APPEND, PROC CONTENTS, and PROC COPY, which focus on specific tasks, PROC DATASETS integrates the functionalities of these procedures and more. By using PROC DATASETS, you avoid the need for multiple procedures, saving both time and system resources since it only updates metadata instead of reading and rewriting the entire dataset.

2. Basic Syntax of PROC DATASETS

The basic structure of PROC DATASETS is as follows:

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=;
    ;
RUN; QUIT;

Here, you specify the library containing the datasets you want to modify. Commands such as CHANGE, DELETE, APPEND, MODIFY, and RENAME follow within the procedure.

3. Use Case 1: Renaming Datasets and Variables

Renaming datasets and variables is a simple yet powerful capability of PROC DATASETS. Here's an example of how you can rename a dataset:

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=mylib;
    CHANGE old_data=new_data;
RUN; QUIT;

To rename a variable within a dataset:

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=mylib;
    MODIFY dataset_name;
    RENAME old_var=new_var;
RUN; QUIT;

4. Use Case 2: Appending Datasets

The APPEND statement is a highly efficient alternative to using SET in a data step because it only reads the dataset being appended (the DATA= dataset), instead of reading both datasets.

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=mylib;
    APPEND BASE=master_data DATA=new_data;
RUN; QUIT;

5. Use Case 3: Deleting Datasets

Deleting datasets or members within a library is simple with PROC DATASETS. You can delete individual datasets or use the KILL option to remove all members of a library:

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=mylib;
    DELETE dataset_name;
RUN; QUIT;

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=mylib KILL;
RUN; QUIT;

6. Use Case 4: Modifying Attributes

You can modify variable attributes such as labels, formats, and informats without rewriting the entire dataset:

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=mylib;
    MODIFY dataset_name;
    LABEL var_name='New Label';
    FORMAT var_name 8.2;
RUN; QUIT;

7. Advanced Operations with PROC DATASETS

7.1. Working with Audit Trails

You can use PROC DATASETS to manage audit trails, which track changes made to datasets. For instance, the following code creates an audit trail for a dataset:

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=mylib;
    AUDIT dataset_name;
    INITIATE;
RUN; QUIT;

7.2. Managing Indexes

Indexes help retrieve subsets of data efficiently. You can create or delete indexes with PROC DATASETS:

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=mylib;
    MODIFY dataset_name;
    INDEX CREATE var_name;
RUN; QUIT;

7.3. Cascading File Renaming with the AGE Command

Another useful feature is the AGE command, which renames a set of files in sequence:

PROC DATASETS LIBRARY=mylib;
    AGE file1-file5;
RUN; QUIT;

Checking If a SAS Dataset is Sorted Using PROC DATASETS

In SAS, datasets often need to be sorted to facilitate various analytical operations. Sorting ensures that records are organized based on one or more variables. However, it’s important to know whether a dataset is already sorted before performing time-consuming operations like PROC SORT. Fortunately, SAS provides an efficient way to check whether a dataset is sorted by using the PROC DATASETS procedure.

Why Use PROC DATASETS to Check Sort Status?

PROC DATASETS is a powerful procedure that can manage and inspect datasets. It allows you to view metadata, including the SORTEDBY attribute, which tells you if the dataset has been sorted and by which variables. This method is faster and more efficient than unnecessarily re-sorting a dataset.

Step-by-Step Example

Let’s walk through an example where we use PROC DATASETS to check whether a dataset is sorted.

Sample SAS Code

/* Step 1: Use PROC DATASETS to inspect the dataset's metadata */
proc datasets lib=work nolist;
  contents data=your_dataset out=sorted_info(keep=name sortedby);
run;
quit;

/* Step 2: Print the output to see the SORTEDBY variable */
proc print data=sorted_info;
run;
    

Code Explanation

• proc datasets lib=work nolist; - Specifies the library (in this case, WORK) and suppresses the list of files using the NOLIST option.
• contents data=your_dataset out=sorted_info(keep=name sortedby); - Extracts the metadata for your_dataset and outputs the SORTEDBY information to a dataset named sorted_info.
• proc print data=sorted_info; - Prints the dataset to view the SORTEDBY information.

Interpreting the Output

The output dataset sorted_info will contain the following columns:

• Name: The name of the dataset (in this case, your_dataset).
• SortedBy: A list of the variables by which the dataset is sorted. If this field is empty, it means the dataset is not sorted.

Example Output

Name	SortedBy
your_dataset	var1 var2

In this case, your_dataset is sorted by the variables var1 and var2. If the SortedBy column is empty, it indicates that the dataset is not sorted.

Handling Multiple Datasets

If you need to check multiple datasets in a library, you can modify the PROC DATASETS step to inspect all datasets without specifying a particular dataset.

proc datasets lib=work nolist;
  contents out=sorted_info(keep=name sortedby);
run;
quit;

/* Print the sorted_info dataset */
proc print data=sorted_info;
run;
    

Note: The SORTEDBY attribute is only updated when a dataset is sorted using PROC SORT. If variables are added after sorting, or the dataset wasn't sorted explicitly, this attribute might not reflect the current sorting status.

Conclusion

PROC DATASETS is an indispensable tool for SAS programmers. Its efficiency and versatility allow you to manage datasets with ease, from renaming and deleting to appending and modifying attributes. By leveraging its full potential, you can streamline your SAS workflows and significantly reduce processing times.

Sources

• Ken Friedman, "Using PROC DATASETS for Efficient SAS Processing"
• David Fickbohm, "Why Use PROC DATASETS"
• Michael A. Raithel, "PROC DATASETS: The Swiss Army Knife of SAS Procedures"