Concat String SAS: Ultimate Guide & Examples

In SAS programming, concatenation is the process of merging two or more character strings to create a single, longer string. This operation is frequently used in data analysis and manipulation, particularly when dealing with text data. Concatenation enables SAS programmers to combine text strings from different sources, perform text searches, and generate new variables based on existing ones. As such, it plays a critical role in SAS programming, and mastering this operation is a key skill for any aspiring SAS programmer.

Method 1: Using the Concatenation Operator (||)

Concatenation is a common task that is performed frequently when working with strings in SAS programming. One method of concatenating strings in SAS is by using the concatenation operator (||).

To use the concatenation operator, simply place two or more strings next to each other, separated by the concatenation operator. For example:

string1 || string2

This will concatenate string1 and string2 into a single string. The concatenation operator can also be used with variables:

var1 || var2

Here is an example of concatenating strings with the concatenation operator:

It should be noted that the concatenation operator (||) has been available in SAS since version 6 in the late 1980s. It remains a reliable and efficient way to concatenate strings in SAS programming.

Method 2: Using the CAT Function

The CAT function is an alternative approach to concatenating strings in SAS programming. Unlike the concatenation operator approach, which uses ||, the CAT function concatenates and returns the values passed to it. Additionally, it removes any trailing blanks from each argument before concatenating.

Using the CAT function is simple. The syntax is as follows:

Using the CAT function can make your SAS code simpler and more efficient. Here are a few examples of using the CAT function:

data example;
  set data;
  newvar = cat(name, ' ', age);
run;

data example;
  set data;
  newvar = catx('|', name, age, address);
run;

data example;
  set data;
  newvar = catt(name, 'n', address);
run;

Overall, the CAT function is a powerful tool in SAS programming for concatenating strings. Understanding and using its various options can make your code simpler and more efficient.

Method 3: Using the CATT Function

The CATT function is one of the most useful functions for concatenating strings in SAS programming. It is mainly used to remove trailing blanks from each argument before concatenating. The function concatenates and returns the values passed as if the concatenation operator, ||, were used.

One advantage of using the CATT function is that it removes trailing blanks from each argument before concatenating. This can be a big help when dealing with large datasets or when the strings being concatenated have different lengths. Another advantage of using the CATT function is that it is easy to use and understand, even for newcomers to SAS programming.

Here is an example of using the CATT function in SAS programming:

data example;

x=”SAS”;

y=”programming”;

z=CATT(x,” “,y);

run;

This program merges the strings “SAS” and “programming” together, separated by a space. The result is the string “SAS programming”.

When comparing CATT and CAT functions, one disadvantage of using the CATT function is that it can be slower than using the CAT function. This is due to the extra work required to strip trailing blanks before concatenating. Another disadvantage is that the CATT function does not concatenate numbers as easily as the CAT function, since numeric values are formatted to character values using BEST32.

In summary, the CATT function is a useful tool for concatenating strings in SAS programming, especially when dealing with character strings that have varying lengths. It is easy to use and understand, but can be slower than the CAT function and is not as effective when used with numeric values.

Method 4: Using the CATS Function

The CATS function is another method in SAS programming for concatenating strings. Similar to the CAT and CATT functions, the CATS function joins two or more character strings into a single, longer string. However, the CATS function strips leading and trailing blanks before concatenating the strings.

Using the CATS function in SAS programming is straightforward. To concatenate strings using the CATS function, simply list the character strings you want to join as function arguments. For example, consider the following code:


data new;
    set old;
    x = cats('John', ' ', 'Doe');
run;


This code uses the CATS function to concatenate three strings into a single variable, x. The resulting value of x is ‘John Doe’.

One advantage of using the CATS function in SAS programming is that it removes leading and trailing blanks before concatenating the strings. This can be useful for ensuring consistent formatting in your data.

One disadvantage of using the CATS function is that it can be less efficient than the CAT and CATT functions. This is because the CATS function processes an additional step – removing leading and trailing blanks – before concatenating the strings.

Method 5: Using the CATX Function

The CATX function in SAS programming allows for concatenation of strings with a delimiter, providing more flexibility than other concatenation methods. It works by placing a delimiter between values being concatenated, allowing for easier visualization of the separate values in the final output.

For example, suppose we have the following SAS dataset:

We can use the CATX function to concatenate the first and last names using a comma delimiter:

data output;
set input;
fullname = catx(',', first_name, last_name);
run;

The resulting output dataset would appear as:

The advantages of using the CATX function include the ability to specify a delimiter, which can make the final output easier to visualize and understand. One disadvantage of using the CATX function is that numeric values are formatted to character values using BEST32, which may result in unexpected formatting if not considered.

Concatenating a Range of Variables in SAS

When working with SAS programming, it is often necessary to concatenate multiple variables into a single string. This can be done by using loops to iterate over a range of variables and concatenating them one by one.

For example, consider a data set with variables named VAR1, VAR2, VAR3, and VAR4. To concatenate all of these variables into a single string, you can use a DO loop as follows:

data CONCATENATE;
   set INPUT;
   length ALL_VARS $200.; /* Set the length of the concatenated string */
   DO I=1 to 4; /* Loop over variables VAR1 to VAR4 */
      /* Use the CATX function to concatenate the variables with a comma separator */
      ALL_VARS=catx(", ",ALL_VARS,VVALUE("VAR"&I)); 
   END;
run;

The advantage of using this method is the flexibility it provides in terms of the range of variables to be concatenated. You can easily adjust the loop index to concatenate any range of variables you need.

One disadvantage of this approach is that it can be memory-intensive, especially when working with large data sets. Each iteration of the loop creates a new string, which can quickly consume memory.

Another approach to concatenating variables in SAS is to use the array function. Arrays allow you to reference a group of variables using a single name, which makes it easier to concatenate them into a single string.

In conclusion, concatenating a range of variables in SAS requires the use of loops or arrays. While loops provide more flexibility, they may also be more memory-intensive than arrays. It is important to choose the best approach based on the size of your data set and your specific requirements.

Concatenating All Variables of the Same Type in SAS

Concatenating all variables of the same type in SAS is a useful technique for combining multiple strings into a single longer string. This can be accomplished using a variety of SAS functions, including CAT, CATS, CATT, CATX, and vvaluex.

To concatenate all variables of the same type, you can use PROC CONTENTS to create a macro variable containing the variable names of all variables of the same type. For example, the following code creates a macro variable containing the names of all character variables in a SAS data set:

Once you have created the macro variable containing the variable names, you can use the CATS function to concatenate the values of the specified variables:

The above code creates a new variable called “new_var” in the “output” data set, and assigns it the concatenated values of all character variables in the “input” data set.

One advantage of concatenating all variables of the same type is that it can simplify the code necessary to perform certain tasks. For example, concatenating all character variables in a data set can make it easier to search for specific values or patterns within the data.

However, one disadvantage of concatenating all variables of the same type is that it can be memory-intensive for large data sets with many variables. In addition, concatenating all variables in a data set may result in loss of information, if the concatenated string exceeds the length of the maximum character length for SAS variables.

Concatenating Strings in SAS with PROC SQL

String concatenation is a fundamental requirement in SAS programming. Using PROC SQL is an excellent way to concatenate strings in SAS. PROC SQL allows you to join multiple strings into a single, longer string. Below are some examples of how to use PROC SQL to concatenate strings in SAS:

Using PROC SQL to concatenate strings has its benefits, including:

• PROC SQL is easy to use and learn.
• PROC SQL is efficient and faster than other methods of string concatenation.
• PROC SQL can handle different string types, such as numeric and character strings.

However, there are some disadvantages to using PROC SQL for concatenating strings:

• PROC SQL is less flexible when it comes to formatting concatenated strings compared to other SAS functions like CATS and CATX.
• PROC SQL produces an error if any of the strings being concatenated are null, so null values must be handled before concatenating.

Overall, using PROC SQL to concatenate strings in SAS is a useful and efficient method. Just be aware of its limitations and make sure to consider which method is best for your specific use case.

FAQs

Commonly asked questions about concatenating strings in SAS programming and their answers:

1. What is concatenation in SAS programming?

Concatenation refers to the process of combining two or more strings to form a single, longer string. This is a common task performed in SAS programming.

2. What are the different methods used for string concatenation in SAS programming?

There are several methods used for string concatenation in SAS programming. These include the CAT, CATT, CATS, and CATX functions, as well as manual looping over PDV variables and using a hash to track variables.

3. What is the difference between different concatenation methods?

The main differences between the concatenation methods lie in how they handle spaces and delimiters, as well as trailing and leading blanks. CAT concatenates values as if the concatenation operator were used. CATT removes trailing blanks from each argument before concatenating. CATS strips leading and trailing blanks before concatenating. CATX places a delimiter between concatenated values and strips leading and trailing blanks.

4. How can I concatenate multiple ranges of variables?

To concatenate multiple ranges of variables, you can use the CATX function along with the colon operator. For example, you could use CATX(“-“, var1:var3) to concatenate variables var1, var2, and var3 with a hyphen delimiter.

5. What are the considerations when deciding which method to use for string concatenation in SAS programming?

When deciding which method to use for string concatenation in SAS programming, it’s important to consider the specific requirements and goals of your program. Some methods may be more efficient or better suited to certain data or task types. Additionally, some methods may handle spaces and delimiters differently, which can impact the output of your program. It’s generally recommended to test different methods and compare their results before deciding on a final approach.

Conclusion

In conclusion, string concatenation is a common task in SAS programming. Prior to SAS 9, concatenating strings can be done using the concatenation operator or with the CAT, CATT, CATS, and CATX functions. These functions enable SAS programmers to join two or more character strings into a single, longer string, with the option to remove leading or trailing spaces or to customize the delimiter. Using any of these functions can make SAS programming more efficient and organized.

To sum up, SAS programmers can try different methods for string concatenation depending on their specific requirements. They can use concatenation operators, the CAT, CATT, CATS, and CATX functions, or loop over PDV variables using vvaluex. By using the right method for the job, SAS programmers can produce codes that are tidy, effective, and easy to read.

References

Here are some trusted references and external links that were used in this article:

1. SAS Documentation: Concatenating Strings2. SAS Programmer’s Guide3. SAS Whitepaper: Use of SQL in SAS Programs