SAS Arrays and DO Loop Made Easy

SAS Arrays : Introduction

It provides a simple, appropriate way to process a group of variables in a SAS DATA step.

Syntax
Array array-name {number-of-elements} list-of-variables;
Note: You can use [ ] or { } or ( ) for defining number of elements in the ARRAY statement.

Examples

1.  ARRAY ABC[5] a b c d e; 

In the example above, ABC is an array-name, 5 implies the number of variables in array and "a b c d e" are the fields that make up the array.

2. ARRAY ABC[*] a b c d e; 

In the example above, SAS would automatically calculate the number of variables in array.

3. ARRAY ABC[*] X1-X10;

Where the X1 variable contains the X1 value, X2 contains the X2 value, etc.

4. ARRAY ABC[*]  $ X1-X10;

If the variables are of character type then use $ sign before specifying list of variables.

Sample Data

SAS Array : Example
data temp;
input x1 x2 x3 x4$ x5$;
cards;
1 2 3 AA BB
2 3 4 AB CC
3 4 5 AC DD
4 5 6 AD EE
5 6 7 AE FF
6 7 8 AF GG
;
run;
Example I : Numeric variables having value greater than 3 need to be replaced with missing value

data test;
set temp;
array nvars {3} x1-x3;
do i = 1 to 3;
if nvars{i} > 3 then nvars{i} =.;
end;
run;  
Output : Array Statement
Why i is 4 in the output data set?

The first time the loop processes, the value of count is 1; the second time, 2; and the third time, 3. At the beginning of the fourth iteration, the value of count is 4, which is found to be greater than the stop value of 3 so the loop stops. However, the value of i is now 4 and not 3, the last value before it would be greater than 3 as the stop value.
Note : We can drop variable "i" with drop statement or drop data set option.
Improvised version of the above code 
data test;
set temp;
array nvars (*) _numeric_;
do i = 1 to dim(nvars);
if nvars{i} > 3 then nvars{i} =.;
end;
drop i;
run;
Notes - 
  1. The "_numeric_" is used to specify all the numeric variables.
  2. The DIM function returns the number of elements (variables).

Example II. : Extract first letter of all the character variables
data test;
set temp;
array cvars (*) _character_;
do i = 1 to dim(cvars);
cvars{i} = substr(cvars{i},1,1);
end;
drop i;
run;
 Note - The "_character_" is used to specify all the character variables.

Example III. : Extract first letter and fill in the new character variables
data test;
set temp;
array cvars (*) _character_;
array dvars (*) $ x6 X7;
do i = 1 to dim(cvars);
dvars{i} = substr(cvars{i},1,1) ;
end;
drop i;
run;
Example IV : Assign Initial Values in a SAS Array
data abcd;
set temp;
array nvars (*) _numeric_;
array pvars (*) px1 px2 px3;
array pctinc {3} _temporary_ (1.1 , 1.2 ,1.3); do i = 1 to dim(nvars);
pvars{i} = nvars{i} * pctinc{i};
end;
drop i;
run;  
Notes -
  1. In the above example, we are multiplying variables' values with different numbers.
  2. When the key word _TEMPORARY_ is used in a ARRAY statement, data elements are created but are not stored in the data file.

Example V : Calculate Percentage Growth
data abcd;
set temp;
array nvars(*) _numeric_;
array diff{2} _temporary_;
array percent{2};
do i = 1 to 2;
diff{i} = nvars{i +1} - nvars{i};
percent{i} = diff{i} / nvars{i} ;
end;
drop i;
run;

Using the OF Operator in a SAS Array


The following two codes are equivalent :
array gnp (*) x y z;
sumgnp = sum(of gnp(*));
OR
sumgnp = sum(x,y,z); 
*Calculate the mean;
  mean_score = mean(of gnp(*));

* Calculate the minimum;
   min_score = min(of gnp(*));

Suppose you are asked to create a flag in cases wherein sum of variables x1,x2 and x3 is greater than 10.
data test;
set temp;
array nvars (*) x1-x3;
if sum(of nvars(*)) > 10 then flag =1;
else flag=0;
run;

DO OVER LOOP

The DO OVER loop is one of the most useful DO loops. It can be used with an array when indexing of the array is not needed.
data test;
set temp;
array nvars _numeric_;
do over nvars;
if nvars > 3 then nvars = .;
end;
run;
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About Author:
Deepanshu Bhalla

Deepanshu founded ListenData with a simple objective - Make analytics easy to understand and follow. He has over 10 years of experience in data science. During his tenure, he has worked with global clients in various domains like Banking, Insurance, Private Equity, Telecom and Human Resource.

20 Responses to "SAS Arrays and DO Loop Made Easy"
  1. its very useful and easily understandable for starters like me ... thank you ...keep posting

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is really good and understandable. Really helpful for the people who are trying to come in SAS. Keep Posting..... Thanks:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. good content but confusing without actual figures to imagine the process

    ReplyDelete
  4. The content is very good. Please keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for your teaching. Its easy to understand. Much appreciated

    ReplyDelete
  6. The examples are easy to understand thanks a lot for posting but I didn't understand what is the use of 1,1 in this example
    data test;
    set temp;
    array cvars (*) _character_;
    array dvars (*) $ x6 X7;
    do i = 1 to dim(cvars);
    dvars{i} = substr(cvars{i},1,1) ;
    end;
    drop i;
    run;

    ReplyDelete
  7. Substring starting character 1 and length is 1

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice site--you showed me some PROC FREQ options that I wasn't aware of!

    NOTE: If there are more than 2 character variables you'll get an error here because it will try to reference an index that doesn't exist in the second array with only 2 members.

    data test;
    set temp;
    array cvars (*) _character_;
    array dvars (*) $ x6 X7;
    do i = 1 to dim(cvars);
    dvars{i} = substr(cvars{i},1,1) ;
    end;
    drop i;
    run;

    ReplyDelete
  9. can anyone explain do over loop in detail. .what is mean by indexing of array ??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indexing here means that we do not need to declare any variables as we did it in first code. If the operation needs to be performed on all the variables then you do not need to define any array with an index it will automatically pick all the variables and work on it.

      Delete
  10. I have to multiply 1 column(n observation) to single value .what would be syntax?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Can someone answer....1). which function is used to count variables /values in sas?

    ReplyDelete
  12. how do you flag when a variable is greater than a specific length in array

    ReplyDelete
  13. Excellent tutorial. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge in such easy to understand way.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Data sales;
    Do year=1 to5;
    Do month=1 to 12;
    X+1;
    Output;
    End;
    End;
    Run;
    Sales data contain number of records?
    Could you please solve this question

    ReplyDelete
  15. i want

    do i=1 to 12;
    it gives 1 up to 12 but i want jan to dec plz i needed

    any one helpme

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. add format to the month variable

      Delete
  16. Very helpful content.. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you. Very helpful information with understandable example and notes.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Data ex1;
    Do i=1 to 10;
    End;
    Run;

    Data ex2;
    Do i=1 to 10;
    Output;
    End;
    Run;

    Data ex3;
    Do i=1 to 10;
    Output;
    End;
    Output;
    Run;

    In those we getting different output why,how inner process happens, please explain

    ReplyDelete

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