Hash Code

Merging data sets in SAS is extremely important, however sometimes (depending on the size of the data sets you're merging) this can take a long time to run. Once again SuperBass SAS to the rescue. Using the hash code below can speed this process up massively!

data merged_account_information;

      set account1; /*first table you are merging*/

      length gender $6.;

      if _n_=1 then do;

      declare hash h1(dataset:"account_gender"); /*data memorising information from (the other table you are merging with)*/

       h1.defineKey("account_number"); /*define key to merge on*/

       h1.defineData("gender"); /*define variable to bring across*/

       h1.defineDone(); /*closes hash set*/

      end;

      rc = h1.find() ;

      if rc = 0; /*match returns 0*/

      drop rc;

run;

/*to keep files that don’t match type rc ne 0*/

The code above merges the data set account1 with the data set account_gender by account number, and brings across the gender of the owner of each account!

Generally it's a good idea to declare hash on the smaller of the two tables your merging, otherwise you could get system support giving you a call sometime after you've run it! Also don't forget to specify the length of the variable you're bringing across!

Enjoy! P.S....I own a dog!!