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SAS interview questions
By admin | October 12, 2004
1. What SAS statements would you code to read an external raw data file to a DATA step?
2. How do you read in the variables that you need?
3. Are you familiar with special input delimiters? How are they used?
4. If reading a variable length file with fixed input, how would you prevent SAS from reading the
next record if the last variable didn’t have a value?
5. What is the difference between an informat and a format? Name three informats or formats.
6. Name and describe three SAS functions that you have used, if any?
7. How would you code the criteria to restrict the output to be produced?
8. What is the purpose of the trailing @? The @@? How would you use them?
9. Under what circumstances would you code a SELECT construct instead of IF statements?
10. What statement do you code to tell SAS that it is to write to an external file? What
statement do you code to write the record to the file?
11. If reading an external file to produce an external file, what is the shortcut to write that
record without coding every single variable on the record?
12. If you’re not wanting any SAS output from a data step, how would you code the data
statement to prevent SAS from producing a set?
13. What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can be coded in any step?
14. Have you ever linked SAS code? If so, describe the link and any required statements used to
either process the code or the step itself.
15. How would you include common or reuse code to be processed along with your statements?
16. When looking for data contained in a character string of 150 bytes, which function is the
best to locate that data: scan, index, or indexc?
17. If you have a data set that contains 100 variables, but you need only five of those, what is
the code to force SAS to use only those variable?
18. Code a PROC SORT on a data set containing State, District and County as the primary
variables, along with several numeric variables.
19. How would you delete duplicate observations?
20. How would you delete observations with duplicate keys?
21. How would you code a merge that will keep only the observations that have matches from
both sets.
22. How would you code a merge that will write the matches of both to one data set, the non-
matches from the left-most data set to a second data set, and the non-matches of the right-
most data set to a third data set.
23. What is the Program Data Vector (PDV)? What are its functions?
24. Does SAS ‘Translate’ (compile) or does it ‘Interpret’? Explain.
25. At compile time when a SAS data set is read, what items are created?
26. Name statements that are recognized at compile time only?
27. Identify statements whose placement in the DATA step is critical.
28. Name statements that function at both compile and execution time.
Search
29. Name statements that are execution only.
30. In the flow of DATA step processing, what is the first action in a typical DATA Step?
31. What is _n_?
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42 COMMENTS ON SAS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Ruksana
Posted 4/17/2005 at 2:33 pm | Permalink
hi there,
i am a student learning SAS. i need answer for SAS questions which are listed on your site.
plz forward me the answers. thanks in advance.
Ruksana
2. srijana
Posted 8/21/2006 at 12:13 am | Permalink
13. What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can be coded in any step?
3. Ravi Awari
Posted 10/24/2006 at 8:07 am | Permalink
13. What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can be coded in any step?
Ans) SET
4. Vinod Swarna
Posted 11/8/2006 at 10:07 pm | Permalink
What SAS statements would you code to read an external raw data file to a DATA step?
Ans:
Data XXX;
infile ‘yyy’;
input …..;
run;
How do you read in the variables that you need?
Ans: drop and keep.
Are you familiar with special input delimiters? How are they used?
Ans: DSD dlm missover pad.
If reading a variable length file with fixed input, how would you prevent SAS from reading
the next record if the last variable didn’t have a value?
Ans: Missover
What is the difference between an informat and a format? Name three informats or formats.
Ans: informat to read the date. Format to write the data. Informats: comma. dollar. date.
Formats can be same as informats
Name and describe three SAS functions that you have used, if any?
mean()
date()
today()
How would you code the criteria to restrict the output to be produced?
Ans: noprint
What is the purpose of the trailing @? The @@? How would you use them?
Ans: @ hold the value past the data step.
@@ hold the value till a input statement or end of the line
Under what circumstances would you code a SELECT construct instead of IF statements?
Ans: if there are many mutually exclusive conditions
What statement do you code to tell SAS that it is to write to an external file? What statement
do you code to write the record to the file?
Ans: data _null_
set xxx;
file ‘YYY’;
put vv ii nn oo dd;
run;
If reading an external file to produce an external file, what is the shortcut to write that record
without coding every single variable on the record?
If you’re not wanting any SAS output from a data step, how would you code the data
statement to prevent SAS from producing a set?
What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can be coded in any step?
Ans: set
Have you ever linked SAS code? If so, describe the link and any required statements used to
either process the code or the step itself.
How would you include common or reuse code to be processed along with your statements?
When looking for data contained in a character string of 150 bytes, which function is the best
to locate that data: scan, index, or indexc?
If you have a data set that contains 100 variables, but you need only five of those, what is the
code to force SAS to use only those variable?
Code a PROC SORT on a data set containing State, District and County as the primary
variables, along with several numeric variables.
How would you delete duplicate observations?
How would you delete observations with duplicate keys?
How would you code a merge that will keep only the observations that have matches from
both sets.
Ans: data xxx
merge yyy(in = inxxx) zzz (in = inzzz)
by aaa;
if inxxx = 1 and inyyy = 1;
run;
How would you code a merge that will write the matches of both to one data set, the non-
matches from the left-most data set to a second data set, and the non-matches of the right-
most data set to a third data set.
What is the Program Data Vector (PDV)? What are its functions?
Ans: To store the current obs;
Does SAS ‘Translate’ (compile) or does it ‘Interpret’?
Explain.
Ans: compile.
At compile time when a SAS data set is read, what items are created?
Ans: Descriptor portion of the data set, PDV.
Name statements that are recognized at compile time only?
Ans: put
Identify statements whose placement in the DATA step is critical.
Ans: Data, Run;
Name statements that function at both compile and execution time.
Ans:input
Name statements that are execution only.
In the flow of DATA step processing, what is the first action in a typical DATA Step?
Ans: set the variables to missing.
What is _n_?
Ans: SAS variable to count the no of obs read.
5. Mohan
Posted 11/22/2006 at 11:12 am | Permalink
If you have a data set that contains 100 variables, but you need only five of those, what is the
code to force SAS to use only those variable?
Ans: use the data step option OBS=5
Code a PROC SORT on a data set containing State, District and County as the primary
variables, along with several numeric variables.
Ans: PROC SORT
data= out= ;
BY Country State District;
RUN;
How would you delete duplicate observations?
Ans: use PROC SORT with the option NODUP
How would you delete observations with duplicate keys?
Ans: use PROC SORT with the option NODUPKEY
6. Mohan
Posted 11/22/2006 at 11:15 am | Permalink
If you have a data set that contains 100 variables, but you need only five of those, what is the
code to force SAS to use only those variable?
Ans: Sorry, my apologies for the above answer for this question. The correct answer is
use KEEP= option in the SET statement of the DATA step
7. thiyagarajan
Posted 12/20/2006 at 8:38 am | Permalink
Hi All,
1)Can you please tell me the list of compile time statements?
2)I have 100 observations from that i want to create 5 datasets like a1,a2,a3,a4,a5.Each data
set should contain 20 observation each.For ex.a1 would contain 1 to 20 obs and a2 would
contain 21-40 like that…
waiting for your comments
8. Kishore Kumar.K
Posted 12/26/2006 at 12:40 am | Permalink
13. What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can be coded in any step?
Ans:- Options
9. srinivas.MP
Posted 1/2/2007 at 10:07 am | Permalink
2)I have 100 observations from that i want to create 5 datasets like a1,a2,a3,a4,a5.Each data
set should contain 20 observation each.For ex.a1 would contain 1 to 20 obs and a2 would
contain 21-40 like that…
data a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
set ;
if obs>=1 and =21 and =41 and =61 and
10. kavitha
Posted 1/18/2007 at 11:21 am | Permalink
hi
is the following code right for following question?
How would you code a merge that will write the matches of both to one data set, the non-
matches from the left-most data set to a second data set, and the non-matches of the right-
most data set to a third data set.
data one two three;
maerge a (in=ina) an b=(inb)
by xx;
if ina=1 and inb=1 then proc print data=one;
if ina=1 and inb=0 then proc print data=two;
if ina=0 and inb=1 then proc print data = three;
run;
11. kavitha
Posted 1/18/2007 at 11:31 am | Permalink
I have 100 observations from that i want to create 5 datasets like a1,a2,a3,a4,a5.Each data
set should contain 20 observation each.For ex.a1 would contain 1 to 20 obs and a2 would
contain 21-40 like that…
let us say x is the data set that had all the 199 observations…
data a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
set x;
if firstobs=1 and obs=20 then proc print data =a1;
if firstobs=21 and obs=40 then proc print data =a2;
if firstobs=41 and obs=60 then proc print data =a3;
if firstobs=61 and obs=80 then proc print data =a4;
if firstobs=81 and obs=100 then proc print data =a5;
run;
if you do not want the output in log file you do not have to use proc print
12. kavitha
Posted 1/18/2007 at 11:38 am | Permalink
At compile time when a SAS data set is read, what items are created?
1. input buffer
2. Program Data Vector (PDV)
3. Descriptor Information
13. kavitha
Posted 1/18/2007 at 11:46 am | Permalink
When looking for data contained in a character string of 150 bytes, which function is the best
to locate that data: scan, index, or indexc?
ans: Index will give you the position
14. kavitha
Posted 1/19/2007 at 11:51 am | Permalink
can anyone please tell me if there is a sas user group or discussion forum near fairfax, va
15. Kishore Kumar.Kandikatla
Posted 3/25/2007 at 2:14 pm | Permalink
13. What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can be coded in any step?
Ans:- Options
16. Kishore Kumar.Kandikatla
Posted 3/25/2007 at 2:18 pm | Permalink
How do you read in the variables that you need?
Using input statement.
17. Arun Mathura.G said,
Posted 4/3/2007 at 6:48 am | Permalink
I have 100 observations from that i want to create 5 datasets like a1,a2,a3,a4,a5.Each data
set should contain 20 observation each.For ex.a1 would contain 1 to 20 obs and a2 would
contain 21-40 like that…
Answer:
data a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
set x;
if _N_ >=1 and _N_ =21 and _N_ =41 and _N_ =61 and _N_ =81 and _N_
18. hi
Posted 4/4/2007 at 1:04 am | Permalink
data a1 a2 a3;
set x;
if _n_ >=1 and _n_ =21 and _n_ =41 and _n_
19. SIVA
Posted 4/10/2007 at 7:08 am | Permalink
data a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
set x;
select;
when (_n_ le 20) output a1;
when (20
20. siva
Posted 4/10/2007 at 7:13 am | Permalink
At compile time when a SAS data set is read, what items are created?
While reading a SAS data set the input buffer will not be created. It will be created only when
the external data is read. So when a sas data set is read
PDV and the descriptor portion will only be created.
21. rao
Posted 4/17/2007 at 9:49 pm | Permalink
1) what is difference between SASV8.0 and SASV9.0?
2) u r creating Macro variable where we have to stored it?
3) what is difference between SAS debugging and Macro debugging?
4)what is the feature of SET statements?
5)what is the feature of merge statements?
22. Dharsha
Posted 5/1/2007 at 8:51 am | Permalink
How would you code a merge that will keep only the observations that have matches from
both sets.
Ans)
suppose their are two files difined. assume A & B,
based on key (ID) u need only matching form both the
datasets to be in another
Data infilea;
infile infilea;
input @1 id $char10.
@11 datafiled $char100.;
Proc Sort by id;
Data infileb;
infile infileb;
input @1 id $char10.
@11 datafiled $char100.;
Proc Sort by id;
Data_null_
Merger infilea(in=a) infileb (in=b) by id;
If A=B then
File Outfile;
Put @1 id Char10;
@11 Datafield $char100.
End;
23. Kiran
Posted 5/2/2007 at 5:42 am | Permalink
How would you code a merge that will write the matches of both to one data set, the non-
matches from the left-most data set to a second data set, and the non-matches of the right-
most data set to a third data set.
data one two three;
maerge a (in=ina) an b=(inb)
by xx;
if ina=1 and inb=1 then output one;
if ina=1 and inb=0 then output two;
if ina=0 and inb=1 then output three;
run;
24. Montacer
Posted 5/3/2007 at 7:09 am | Permalink
I would like to estimate a Tobit model on panel data. PROC QLIM is supposed to be the
appropriate procedure. But did not find any details on how to tell PROC QLIM that I am using
panel data. Could you mind helping me please?
25. sannidhi
Posted 5/14/2007 at 9:04 pm | Permalink
hi
%let A= 3
%let B= 4
%let C= &A + &B
%let C= &C
What is the value of %Put statement?
Please give me the answer.
26. ravi
Posted 5/21/2007 at 11:44 am | Permalink
hi
%let A= 3
%let B= 4
%let C= &A + &B
%let C= &C
What is the value of %Put statement?
Please give me the answer.
c=3+4
27. Paul
Posted 5/25/2007 at 4:50 pm | Permalink
Also firstobs and obs are dataset control options. Not execution time statements. This code
will never work.
A more feasible answer is to do this:
%*sets up a bogus datasource;
data x;
do i=1 to 100;
xx=’Your Data’;
end;
run;
%*accomplishes the task;
data a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
set x;
cnt+1; put cnt=;
if 0kavitha said,
I have 100 observations from that i want to create 5 datasets like a1,a2,a3,a4,a5.Each data
set should contain 20 observation each.For ex.a1 would contain 1 to 20 obs and a2 would
contain 21-40 like that…
let us say x is the data set that had all the 199 observations…
data a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
set x;
if firstobs=1 and obs=20 then proc print data =a1;
if firstobs=21 and obs=40 then proc print data =a2;
if firstobs=41 and obs=60 then proc print data =a3;
if firstobs=61 and obs=80 then proc print data =a4;
if firstobs=81 and obs=100 then proc print data =a5;
run;
if you do not want the output in log file you do not have to use proc print
28. Paul
Posted 5/25/2007 at 4:51 pm | Permalink
%*accomplishes the task;
data a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
set x;
cnt+1; put cnt=;
if 0
29. bharath
Posted 7/16/2007 at 12:57 am | Permalink
hi,
these is bharath,iam learning sas will anyone give me the answers for these quetions .plz
forward me
1.name statments that functions at both compile & execution time ?
2.name statments that are execution only ?
3.what is the difference between var A1-A4 &varA1–A4?
4.wat is the order of evaluation of the comparison operators : + - */** () ?
5.wat is the significance of the ‘OF’ in x= sum (OF a1-a4,a6,a9); ?
30. kishore kumar kandikatla
Posted 7/28/2007 at 2:21 pm | Permalink
Hi rao here are my comments:
1) what is difference between SASV8.0 and SASV9.0?
ans:- u can take this as one: SASv9 (x)…more improved version from sas with respect to BI
tools and with many advanced features.
SASv8.0:- limited features not that much concentrated on BI tools.
2) u r creating Macro variable where we have to stored it?
ans: it depends on you, if u want to make them as reusable components u can save them in
one pertucular location and u can call them by using %include.
3) what is difference between SAS debugging and Macro debugging?
ANS: debugging is debuggin. no idea.
4)what is the feature of SET statements?
ans: you can apply transformations and u can even load the data.
one importance: its a technique to improve the efficiency of sas programs.
5)what is the feature of merge statements?
One simple answer is u can perform all types of joins.
31. nvv
Posted 8/14/2007 at 7:18 am | Permalink
How would you code a merge that will write the matches of both to one data set, the non-
matches from the left-most data set to a second data set, and the non-matches of the right-
most data set to a third data set.
THIS NOT WORKING GUYS… PLZ CHECK IT
filename x ‘C:\Documents and Settings\vinayak\Desktop\v.txt’;
data a1 a2 ;
infile x;
if firstobs=1 and obs=20 then proc print data=a1;
if firstobs=21 and obs=40 then proc print data=a2;
run;
proc print data=a1 a2;
run;
32. Gopi
Posted 8/19/2007 at 9:15 am | Permalink
Hi All,
Can anyone explain about:
Proc LIFETEST and Proc GLM
33. madhu
Posted 9/21/2007 at 8:26 am | Permalink
Q:what is the difference between dsd and missover?
Q:with out data set name create data set ? it is possible?
34. AKA
Posted 12/11/2007 at 6:10 pm | Permalink
Q:what is the difference between dsd and missover?
missover prevents a sas program from going to a new input line if it doesnot find values in
the current line for all the input variables.
Q:with out data set name create data set ? it is possible?
data _NULL_;
35. AKA
Posted 12/11/2007 at 6:55 pm | Permalink
# How does SAS handle missing values in: assignment statements, functions, a merge, an
update, sort order, formats, PROCs?
# How many missing values are available? When might you use them?
# How do you test for missing values?
# How are numeric and character missing values represented internally?
36. AKA
Posted 12/11/2007 at 6:56 pm | Permalink
# How do you make use of functions?
# When looking for contained in a character string of 150 bytes, which function is the best to
locate that data: scan, index, or indexc?
# What is the significance of the ‘OF’ in X=SUM(OF a1-a4, a6, a9);?
# What do the PUT and INPUT functions do?
# Which date function advances a date, time or date/time value by a given interval?
# What do the MOD and INT function do?
# How might you use MOD and INT on numerics to mimic SUBSTR on character strings?
# In ARRAY processing, what does the DIM function do?
# How would you determine the number of missing or nonmissing values in computations?
# What is the difference between: x=a+b+c+d; and x=SUM(a,b,c,d);?
# There is a field containing a date. It needs to be displayed in the format “ddmonyy” if it’s
before 1975, “dd mon ccyy” if it’s after 1985, and as ‘Disco Years’ if it’s between 1975 and
1985. How would you accomplish this in data step code? Using only PROC FORMAT.
# In the following DATA step, what is needed for ‘fraction’ to print to the log? data _null_;
x=1/3; if x=.3333 then put ‘fraction’; run;
# What is the difference between calculating the ‘mean’ using the mean function and PROC
MEANS?
37. Gowri
Posted 1/10/2008 at 2:55 am | Permalink
When looking for contained in a character string of 150 bytes, which function is the best to
locate that data: scan, index, or indexc?
Ans: INDEX function. Scan just sub strings the data and INDEXC looks for one char.
# What is the significance of the ‘OF’ in X=SUM(OF a1-a4, a6, a9);?
Ans: Without OF this will be sonsidered as subtraction. I mean a4 will be subtracted from a1.
# What do the PUT and INPUT functions do?
Ans: PUT converts Numeric to character and INPUT converts Character to Numeric explicitly
Which date function advances a date, time or date/time value by a given interval?
Ans: INTNX
In the following DATA step, what is needed for ‘fraction’ to print to the log?
data _null_; x=1/3; if x=.3333 then put ‘fraction’; run;
Ans: FRACTw. format cna be used to accomplish this
38. David
Posted 5/1/2008 at 10:26 pm | Permalink
1.What SAS statements would you code to read an external raw data file to a DATA step?
Answer: INFILE statement is used to read the external raw data fiel to a Data Step.
2. How do you read in the variables that you need?
Answer: List the variable names after INPUT statement.
3. Are you familiar with special input delimiters? How are they used?
Answer: Yes, Using INPUT statement and DLM=option and DSD optin to read delimited file.
4. If reading a variable length file with fixed input, how would you prevent SAS from reading
the next record if the last variable didn’t have a value?
Answer: Using MISSOVER option in INFILE statement.
5. What is the difference between an informat and a format? Name three informats or
formats.
Answer: Informat gives SAS special instruction for reading a variable, and Format gives SAS
special instruction for writing a variable.
For example: DATEw. w. w.d
6. Name and describe three SAS functions that you have used, if any?
Answer: DAY(date) Today() SUBSTR(ARG,POSITION,N)SUM()
7. How would you code the criteria to restrict the output to be produced?
Answer: Using WHERE statement
8. What is the purpose of the trailing @? The @@? How would you use them?
Answer: Both are line hold specifiers, the difference is how long they hold a line for input,
The trailing@ is used to hold the line of the raw data for subsequent INPUT statements, but
releases that line when SAS returns to the top of DATA step, the trailing @@ will hold the
line even when SAS starts build a new obsrvation.
9. Under what circumstances would you code a SELECT construct instead of IF statements?
Answer:
10. What statement do you code to tell SAS that it is to write to an external file?
Answer: Using _null_ statement
11. What statement do you code to write the record to the file?
Answer: Using FILE and PUT statements
12. If reading an external file to produce an external file, what is the shortcut to write that
record without coding every single variable on the record?
Answer: Using EXPORT procedure
13. If you’re not wanting any SAS output from a data step, how would you code the
data statement to prevent SAS from producing a set?
Answer: _NULL_
14. What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can be coded in any step?
Answer: Where statement
15. Have you ever linked SAS code? If so, describe the link and any required statements used
to either process the code or the step itself.
16. How would you include common or reuse code to be processed along with your
statements?
MICRO
39. jyotsna.G
Posted 6/25/2008 at 5:15 am | Permalink
1.what is the difference between dsd and missover?
2.Give some information about _IOSC_ ?
3.What is the role of _n_ and _null_ ?
40. ajay sinha
Posted 6/27/2008 at 8:36 pm | Permalink
1)What SAS statements would you code to read an external raw data file to a DATA step?
ans)infile statement
2)How do you read in the variables that you need?
ans)use var
like proc print data=er;
var num;
run;
3)Are you familiar with special input delimiters? How are they used?
ans)yes . dlm=’,'; or dlm=’ ‘;etc
4)If reading a variable length file with fixed input, how would you prevent SAS from reading
the next record if the last variable didn’t have a value?
ans)use specific length or format
like input num 9. char $5.;
5)What is the difference between an informat and a format? Name three informats or
formats.
ans)informat is used to print the data from the dataset by ommitng some values whereas
format reads a data differntly then what is actually stored in the dataset by adding our own
values.
date, ddmmyy and worddate
6)Name and describe three SAS functions that you have used, if any?
ans)a=sum(a,b,c);
s=log(a);
d=lag(a);
7)How would you code the criteria to restrict the output to be produced?
ans) use format
8)What is the purpose of the trailing @? The @@? How would you use them?
ans)@ is coulmn pointer to get the specific value while @@ is used if variables are less and
value are more and u want to read each value
input @ ‘content:’ a 9. b 5.;
input a b c @@;
9)Under what circumstances would you code a SELECT construct instead of IF statements?
ans) when u want to use a group
10)What statement do you code to tell SAS that it is to write to an external file?
ans)ods or datafile
11)What statement do you code to write the record to the file?
ans)dde
12)If reading an external file to produce an external file, what is the shortcut to write that
record without coding every single variable on the record?
ans)dde and ods
13)If you’re not wanting any SAS output from a data step, how would you code the
data statement to prevent SAS from producing a set?
ans) data _null_;
14)What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can be coded in any step?
ans)set
15)Have you ever linked SAS code? If so, describe the link and any required statements used
to either process the code or the step itself.
ans)use macro
16)How would you include common or reuse code to be processed along with your
statements?
ans)using format
17)When looking for data contained in a character string of 150 bytes, which function is the
best to locate that data: scan, index, or indexc?
ans)scan
18)If you have a data set that contains 100 variables, but you need only five of those, what is
the code to force SAS to use only those variable?
ans)in input statement use only those variables name which u want.
19)Code a PROC SORT on a data set containing State, District and County as the primary
variables, along with several numeric variables.
ans)proc sort data=q;
by state;
run;
similarly other statements
20)How would you delete duplicate observations?
ans)using dupkey
21)How would you code a merge that will keep only the observations that have matches from
both sets.
ans)usning merge and dupkey
22)How would you code a merge that will write the matches of both to one data set, the non-
matches from the left-most data set to a second data set, and the non-matches of the right-
most data set to a third data set.
ans)merge , dupkey and nodupkey
23)What is the Program Data Vector (PDV)? What are its functions?
ans)memory that sas creates while running the sas program in compilation stage is called
PDV,
24)Does SAS ‘Translate’ (compile) or does it ‘Interpret’?
Explain.
ans)compile with creating PDV
25)At compile time when a SAS data set is read, what items are created?
ans)variables
26)Name statements that are recognized at compile time only?
ans)data
27)Identify statements whose placement in the DATA step is critical.
ans)run;
28)Name statements that function at both compile and execution time.
ans)run;
29)Name statements that are execution only.
ans)proc;
30)In the flow of DATA step processing, what is the first action in a typical DATA Step?
ans)creating the name of dataset.
31)What is _n_?
ans)new line
41. San
Posted 8/4/2008 at 3:32 am | Permalink
I have mentioned the correct answer for some Q. David and Ajay has already mentioned the
correct answer for the other Qs.
4)If reading a variable length file with fixed input, how would you prevent SAS from reading
the next record if the last variable didn’t have a value?
Use MISSOVER while the file is read
INFILE datalines MISSOVER;
5)What is the difference between an informat and a format? Name three informats or
formats.
Format is used to print the output in the desired format
e.g., date9. comma9. DDMMYY10.
Informat is used with the input file which helps to read the data in the desired format to use
it inside the program for valuation
INFORMATs can be used with the INPUT() function, and FORMAT with the PUT() function.
8)What is the purpose of the trailing @? The @@? How would you use them?
SAS provides two line-hold specifiers.
The trailing at sign (@) holds the input record for the execution of the next INPUT statement.
The double trailing at sign (@@) holds the input record for the execution of the next INPUT
statement, even across iterations of the DATA step.
input Name $20. @; or input Name $20. @@;
9)Under what circumstances would you code a SELECT construct instead of IF statements?
When you have a long series of mutually exclusive conditions and the comparison is numeric,
using a SELECT group is slightly more efficient than using a series of IF-THEN or
IF-THEN/ELSE statements because CPU time is reduced. SELECT groups also make the
program easier to read and debug.
10)What statement do you code to tell SAS that it is to write to an external file?
Using FILE statement we can write the data from the external file. INFILE for reading the
data from the external file
11)What statement do you code to write the record to the file?
Using PUT statement or OUTPUT statement
18)If you have a data set that contains 100 variables, but you need only five of those, what is
the code to force SAS to use only those variable?
List Input
19)Code a PROC SORT on a data set containing State, District and County as the primary
variables, along with several numeric variables.
proc sort data=q;
by state District County;
run;
31)What is _n_?
No of times the data step executed.
42. saibabu
Posted 9/8/2008 at 3:57 am | Permalink
hi,
i have 100 observations from that i want to create 5 datasets like a1,a2,a3,a4,a5.Each data
set should contain 20 observation each.For ex.a1 would contain 1 to 20 obs and a2 would
contain 21-40 like that…
data a1 a2 a34 a4 a5;
set xxx;
if 1 le _n_ le 20 then ouput a1;
if 21 le _n_ le 40 then ouput a2;
if 41 le _n_ le 60 then ouput a3;
if 61 le _n_ le 80 then ouput a4;
if 81 le _n_ le 100 then ouput a5;
run;
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