The document summarizes the three phases of the SAS data step process: compilation, execution, and output. During compilation, SAS checks syntax and identifies variable types. It creates an input buffer and program data vector (PDV). In execution, SAS reads each observation into the PDV and executes code. For output, it writes observations from the PDV to the output data set. The document provides examples to illustrate the processing and highlights what occurs in each phase.

1. Understanding SAS Data Step
Processing
Ravi Mandal

2. Reading Raw Data
• Using the following SAS program:
DATA NEW;
INPUT ID $ AGE TEMPC;
TEMPF=TEMPC*(9/5)+32;
DATALINES;
0001 24 37.3
0002 35 38.2
;
run;
proc print;run;
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3. Overview of SAS Data Step
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Compile Phase
(Look at Syntax)
Execution Phase
(Read data, Calculate)
Output Phase
(Create Data Set)

4. Compile Phase
DATA NEW;
INPUT ID $ AGE TEMPC;
TEMPF=TEMPC*(9/5)+32;
DATALINES;
0001 24 37.3
0002 35 38.2
;
run;
proc print;run;
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SAS Checks the syntax of
the program.
• Identifies type and
length of each variable
• Does any variable need
conversion?
If everything is okay,
proceed to the next step.
If errors are discovered, SAS
attempts to interpret what
you mean. If SAS can’t
correct the error, it prints an
error message to the log.

5. Create Input Buffer
• SAS creates an input buffer
• INPUT BUFFER contains data as it is read in
DATALINES;
0001 24 37.3
0002 35 38.2
;
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
0 0 0 1 2 4 3 7 . 3
INPUT BUFFER

6. Execution Phase
• PROGRAM DATA VECTOR (PDV) is created and
contains information about the variables
• Two automatic variables _N_ and _ERROR_ and a
position for each of the four variables in the DATA
step.
• Sets _N_ = 1 _ERROR_ = 0 (no initial error) and
remaining variables to missing.
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_N_ _ERROR_ ID AGE TEMPC TEMPF
1 0 . . .

7. Buffer to PDV
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
0 0 0 1 2 4 3 7 . 3
_N_ _ERROR_ ID AGE TEMPC TEMPF
1 0 0001 24 37.3 .
Calculated
value
Buffer
PDV
_N_ _ERROR_ ID AGE TEMPC TEMPF
1 0 0001 24 37.3 99.14
Processes the code TEMPF=TEMPC*(9/5)+32; Initially
missing
Reads 1st record
If there is an executable statement…

8. Output Phase
• The values in the PDV are written to the
output data set (NEW) as the first
observation:
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_N_ _ERROR_ ID AGE TEMPC TEMPF
1 0 0001 24 37.3 99.14
ID AGE TEMPC TEMPF
0001 24 37.3 99.14
This is the first record
in the output data set
named “NEW.”
Note that _N_ and
_ERROR_ are
dropped.
From
PDV
Write data to data set.

9. Exceptions to Missing in PDV
• Some data values are not initially set to missing in the
PDV
• variables in a RETAIN statement
• variables created in a SUM statement
• data elements in a _TEMPORARY_ array
• variables created with options in the FILE or INFILE
statements
• These exceptions are covered later.
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_N_ _ERROR_ ID AGE TEMPC TEMPF
1 0 . . .
Initial values usually
set to missing in PDV

10. Next data record read
• Once SAS finished reading the first data record, it continues the same
process, and reads the second record…sending results to output data
set (named NEW in this case.)
• …and so on for all records.
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ID AGE TEMPC TEMPF
0001 24 37.3 99.14
0002 35 38.2 100.76

11. Descriptor Information
• For the data set, SAS creates and maintains a description about each
SAS data set:
• data set attributes
• variable attributes
• the name of the data set
• member type, the date and time that the data set was created, and the
number, names and data types (character or numeric) of the variables.
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12. Data Set Description
proc datasets ;
contents data=new;
run;
Contents output… (abbreviated)
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# Name Member
Type
File Size Last
Modified
1 NEW DATA 5120 20Nov13:0
8:59:32
Alternate program
proc contents data= new;
run;

13. Description output continued…
Data Set Name WORK.NEW Observations 2
Member Type DATA Variables 4
Engine V9 Indexes 0
Created Wed, Nov 20, 2013
08:59:32 AM
Observation Length 32
Last Modified Wed, Nov 20, 2013
08:59:32 AM
Deleted
Observations
0
Protection Compressed NO
Data Set Type Sorted NO
Label
Data Representation WINDOWS_64
Encoding wlatin1 Western
(Windows)
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14. Description output continued…
Alphabetic List of Variables and Attributes
# Variable Type Len
2 AGE Num 8
1 ID Char 8
3 TEMPC Num 8
4 TEMPF Num 8
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15. Original Program
DATA NEW;
INPUT ID $ AGE TEMPC;
TEMPF=TEMPC*(9/5)+32;
DATALINES;
0001 24 37.3
0002 35 38.2
;
run;
proc print;run;
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16. Original Program
DATA NEW;
INPUT ID $ AGE TEMPC;
TEMPF=TEMPC*(9/5)+32;
DATALINES;
0001 24 37.3
0002 35 38.2
;
run;
proc print;run;
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Obs ID AGE TEMP
C
TEMP
F
1 0001 24 37.3 99.14
2 0002 35 38.2 100.76
Program output

17. Example of Error
DATA NEW;
INPUT ID $ AGE TEMPC;
TEMPF=TEMPC*(9/5)+32
DATALINES;
0001 24 37.3
0002 35 38.2
;
run;
proc print;run;
proc datasets ;
contents data=new;
run;
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Missing Semi-colon

18. 76 DATA NEW;
77 INPUT ID $ AGE TEMPC;
78 TEMPF=TEMPC*(9/5)+32
79 DATALINES;
---------
22
80 0001 24 37.3
----
180
ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: !, !!, &, *, **, +, -
, /, <, <=, <>, =, >, ><, >=, AND, EQ, GE,
GT, IN, LE, LT, MAX, MIN, NE, NG, NL, NOTIN, OR, ^=, |, ||, ~=.
ERROR 180-322: Statement is not valid or it is used out of proper order.
81 0002 35 38.2
82 ;
83 run;
ERROR: No DATALINES or INFILE statement.Ravi M., sasindia@outlook.com
Error found during compilation

19. Summary - Compilation Phase
• During Compilation
• Check syntax
• Identify type and length of each new variable (is a data type conversion
needed?)
• creates input buffer if there is an INPUT statement for an external file
• creates the Program Data Vector (PDV)
• creates descriptor information for data sets and variable attributes
• Other options not discussed here: DROP; KEEP; RENAME; RETAIN; WHERE;
LABEL; LENGTH; FORMAT; ARRAY; BY; ATTRIB; END=, IN=, FIRST, LAST, POINT=
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20. Summary – Execution Phase
1. The DATA step iterates once for each observation being
created.
2. Each time the DATA statement executes, _N_ is
incremented by 1.
3. Newly created variables set to missing in the PDV.
4. SAS reads a data record from a raw data file into the input
buffer (there are other possibilities not discussed here).
5. SAS executes any other programming statements for the
current record.
6. At the end of the data statements (RUN;) SAS writes an
observation to the SAS data set (OUTPUT PHASE)
7. SAS returns to the top of the DATA step (Step 3 above)
8. The DATA step terminates when there is no more data.
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21. End
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