By using PROC SQL, you can create, modify, and drop (delete) tables quickly and efficiently. Many PROC SQL statements are quite versatile, enabling you to perform the same action in several ways. For example, there are three methods of creating a table by using the CREATE TABLE statement:

The following PROC SQL step uses the CREATE TABLE statement to create an empty table by defining columns, and uses the DESCRIBE TABLE statement to display information about the table's structure in the SAS log:

 proc sql;
    create table work.discount 
           (Destination char(3),
           BeginDate num Format=date9.,
           EndDate num format=date9.,
           Discount num);
    describe table work.discount;

1    proc sql;
2       create table work.discount
3              (Destination char(3),
4              BeginDate num Format=date9.,
5              EndDate num format=date9.,
6              Discount num);
NOTE: Table WORK.DISCOUNT created, with 0 rows and 4 columns.
7       describe table work.discount;
NOTE: SQL table WORK.DISCOUNT was created like:

create table WORK.DISCOUNT( bufsize=4096 )
            ( 
            Destination char(3),
            BeginDate num format=DATE9.,
            EndDate num format=DATE9.,
            Discount num
            );