Differences between MERGE and APPEND procedures in SAS

When working with SAS, it is important to understand the distinctions between the MERGE and APPEND procedures.

MERGE Procedure:

The MERGE procedure in SAS is used to combine two or more datasets based on a common variable. It matches the observations in the input datasets and creates a single output dataset.

APPEND Procedure:

On the other hand, the APPEND procedure in SAS is used to stack one dataset below another, creating a larger dataset. Unlike the MERGE procedure, it does not require a common variable for data merging.

Focus Keyword: SAS MERGE vs APPEND

In summary, the key difference between the SAS MERGE and APPEND procedures lies in the way they handle data combining. While the MERGE procedure merges datasets based on a common variable, the APPEND procedure stacks datasets one below the other without the need for a common variable.