8/30/24, 1:28 AM Lesson Review and Quiz

Summary of Lesson 3: Manipulating Data with Functions

Understanding SAS Functions and CALL Routines

function(argument1, argument2, ...);

CALL routine(argument-1 <, ...argument-n>);

Using Numeric and Date Functions

The RAND function generates random numbers from a selected distribution. The first argument
specifies the distribution, and the remaining arguments differ depending on the distribution. To
generate a random, uniformly distributed integer, use 'INTEGER' as the first argument. The second
and third arguments are the lower and upper limits.

The LARGEST function returns the kth largest nonmissing value. The first argument is the value to
return, and the remaining arguments are the numbers to evaluate. There is also a SMALLEST function
that returns the kth smallest nonmissing value.

The ROUND function rounds the first argument to the nearest integer. The optional second
argument can be provided to indicate the rounding unit.

RAND('distribution', parameter1, ...parameterk)

LARGEST(k, value-1 <, value-2 ...>)
ROUND(number <, rounding-unit>)

These functions can be used to truncate decimal values:

Function What it Does

CEIL (number) Returns the smallest integer that is greater than or equal to the
argument.

FLOOR (number) Returns the largest integer that is less than or equal to the
argument.

INT (number) Returns the integer value.

These functions can be used the extract a date or time component of a datetime value:

DATEPART(datetime-value)
TIMEPART(datetime-value)

https://learn.sas.com/pluginfile.php/13324/mod_scormddl/content/106703/03/summary03.htm 1/4
8/30/24, 1:28 AM Lesson Review and Quiz

This function can be used to count the number of intervals that have occured between a start and
end date. You can specify 'C' to use the continuous method for counting intervals:

INTCK('interval',start-date,end-date <,'method'>)

This function can be used to adjust or shift date values:

INTNX('interval',start,increment <,'alignment'>)

Using Character Functions

These functions can be used to remove characters from a string:

Function What it does

COMPBL(string) Returns a character string with all multiple blanks in the source string
converted to single blanks

COMPRESS (string <, Returns a character string with specified characters removed from the source
characters>) string

STRIP(string) Returns a character string with leading and trailing blanks removed

The SCAN function returns the nth word in a string. If n is negative, the SCAN function begins
reading from the right side of the string.
The default delimiters are as follows: blank ! $ % & ( ) * + , - . / ; < ^ |
The optional third argument enables you to specify a delimiter list. All delimiter characters are
enclosed in a single set of quotation marks.

The PROPCASE function converts all uppercase letters to lowercase letters. It then converts to
uppercase the first character of each word.
The default delimiters are as follows: blank / - ( . tab
The optional second argument enables you to specify a delimiter list. All delimiter characters are
enclosed in a single set of quotation marks.

SCAN(string, n <, 'delimiters'>)

PROPCASE(string <, 'delimiters'>)

FIND(string, substring <, 'modifiers'>)

https://learn.sas.com/pluginfile.php/13324/mod_scormddl/content/106703/03/summary03.htm 2/4
8/30/24, 1:28 AM Lesson Review and Quiz

These functions return a numeric value that identifies the location of selected characters:

Function What it does

LENGTH(string) Returns the length of a non-blank character string, excluding trailing blanks, returns 1
for a completely blank string

ANYDIGIT(string) Returns the first position at which a digit is found in the string

ANYALPHA(string) Returns the first position at which an alpha character is found in the string

ANYPUNCT(string) Returns the first position at which punctuation character is found in the string

TRANWRD(source, target, replacement)

These functions can be used to combine strings into a single character value. The arguments can be
either character or standard numeric values.

Function What it does

CAT(string1, ... stringn) Concatenates strings together, does not remove

leading or trailing blanks

CATS(string1, ... stringn) Concatenates strings together, removes leading or

trailing blanks from each string

CATX('delimiter', string1, ... stringn) Concatenates strings together, removes leading or

trailing blanks from each string, and inserts the
delimiter between each string

Using Special Functions to Convert Column Type

DATA output-table;
SET input-table (RENAME=(current-column=new-column));
...
column1 = INPUT(source, informat);
column2 = PUT(source, format);
...
RUN;

The INPUT function converts a character value to a numeric value using a specified informat. SAS
automatically tries to convert character values to numeric values using the w. informat.

The PUT function converts a numeric or character value to a character value using a specified
format. SAS automatically tries to convert numeric values to character values using the BEST12.

https://learn.sas.com/pluginfile.php/13324/mod_scormddl/content/106703/03/summary03.htm 3/4
8/30/24, 1:28 AM Lesson Review and Quiz

format.

If SAS automatically converts the data, a note is displayed in the SAS log. If you explicitly tell SAS to
convert the data with a function, a note is not displayed in the SAS log.

Some functions such as the CAT functions automatically convert data from numeric to character and
also remove leading blanks on the converted data. No note is displayed in the SAS log.

Copyright © 2024 SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. All rights reserved.

https://learn.sas.com/pluginfile.php/13324/mod_scormddl/content/106703/03/summary03.htm 4/4