The Difference Between RETAIN Statement and RETAIN Statement with NOBS Option in SAS

When it comes to SAS programming, understanding the difference between the RETAIN statement and the RETAIN statement with the NOBS option is crucial for data manipulation.

RETAIN Statement: In SAS, the RETAIN statement is used to initialize the value of variables in a data step. It allows you to retain the value of a variable from one iteration of the DATA step to the next. This means that the variable retains its value until it is explicitly changed.

RETAIN Statement with NOBS Option: The RETAIN statement with the NOBS option is used to prevent the OBS number (observation number) from being reset to 1 at the beginning of each iteration. This can be useful when working with data that relies on the sequential order of observations.

One key difference between the two is that while the regular RETAIN statement initializes variable values, the RETAIN statement with NOBS option specifically focuses on maintaining the OBS number. This can be particularly beneficial when you need to retain the order of observations in your SAS dataset.

Overall, understanding and knowing how to use both the RETAIN statement and the RETAIN statement with the NOBS option can significantly improve your data processing capabilities in SAS programming.

For more information and tips on SAS programming, feel free to explore our SAS programming resources.