suresh Understanding the Difference Between MERGE and SET Statements in SAS
When it comes to data manipulation in SAS, knowing the distinction between the MERGE and SET statements is crucial. The primary difference lies in how these statements combine datasets.
SET Statement: The SET statement in SAS is used to stack datasets vertically. It appends observations to the end of an existing dataset, increasing the number of rows but not columns. This statement is useful for combining datasets with the same variables.
MERGE Statement: In contrast, the MERGE statement in SAS combines datasets horizontally. It matches observations based on a specified variable and merges the columns of the matched observations into a single row. This allows for the creation of a new dataset that includes variables from both original datasets.
Therefore, while the SET statement adds observations vertically, the MERGE statement adds variables horizontally, resulting in a different outcome in terms of dataset structure and content.
By understanding the distinction between the MERGE and SET statements in SAS, data analysts and programmers can effectively manipulate datasets to meet their analysis requirements.
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