suresh Understanding the Difference Between DROP and KEEP Statements in SAS
When working with data in SAS, it is important to understand the differences between the DROP and KEEP statements. These statements are used to manipulate the variables in a data set, but they serve different purposes.
DROP Statement: The DROP statement is used to specify variables that you want to exclude from the output data set. When you use the DROP statement, only the variables listed after the statement will be removed from the data set, while all other variables will be included.
KEEP Statement: On the other hand, the KEEP statement is used to specify variables that you want to include in the output data set. When you use the KEEP statement, only the variables listed after the statement will be retained in the data set, and all other variables will be excluded.
It is important to note that you can use both the DROP and KEEP statements in the same DATA step, but they will be applied in the order in which they appear. This means that if you use both statements, the KEEP statement should come before the DROP statement to ensure that the desired variables are retained.
In summary, the DROP statement is used to exclude variables from the output data set, while the KEEP statement is used to include only specific variables in the output data set. Understanding how to effectively use these statements will allow you to manipulate your data sets in SAS efficiently.
For more information about these statements and other data manipulation techniques in SAS, refer to the official SAS documentation or consult with a SAS expert.
References:
SAS Documentation - KEEP Statement,
SAS Documentation - DROP Statement
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