Is This Book for You?

This book was written for SAS users at all levels from all disciplines who need to combine, modify, and reshape SAS data sets. If you are a beginning SAS programmer, the extensive margin notes that accompany the code will help you solve a task as well as learn more about how to program in SAS. If you are an intermediate SAS programmer, the examples will help you extend your knowledge of SAS and how to apply it to different programming tasks. And, if you are an advanced SAS programmer, you can learn more about how to apply SAS features that you might not have used yet or that you use infrequently.

Many of the examples include both a DATA step solution and a PROC SQL solution. If you are more familiar with one technique, you can adapt that technique to your task. Also, you can learn more about coding the unfamiliar technique by comparing its code to the technique you use more often.

Basic knowledge of SAS programming is necessary to understand the examples in this book. You should know how to write a basic DATA step. If you are more familiar with PROC SQL, you will find that many examples include both a PROC SQL and DATA step solution.