Peter,

To this I might add that more than one buffer can be prepared - which of course means more than one SET statement, each initiating its own independent input stream. One buffer is certainly preferable from the memory usage standpoint. However, whether to use one SET calling the same file name N times or N SET statements each calling the same file mane, depends on the order in which the observations need to be utilized. The following steps, both reading a 3-records file A containing a single VAR assuming values 1, 2, 3, might demonstrate the point:

42 data _null_ ; 43 set a a ; put _n_= var = ; 44 run ; _N_=1 var=1 _N_=2 var=2 _N_=3 var=3 _N_=4 var=1 _N_=5 var=2 _N_=6 var=3 NOTE: There were 3 observations read from the data set WORK.A. NOTE: There were 3 observations read from the data set WORK.A.

45 data _null_ ; 46 set a ; put _n_= var = ; 47 set a ; put _n_= var = ; 48 run ; _N_=1 var=1 _N_=1 var=1 _N_=2 var=2 _N_=2 var=2 _N_=3 var=3 _N_=3 var=3 NOTE: There were 3 observations read from the data set WORK.A. NOTE: There were 3 observations read from the data set WORK.A.

Kind regards, ====================== Paul M. Dorfman Jacksonville, Fl ======================

-----Original Message----- From: Peter Crawford [mailto:peter.crawford@DB.COM] Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 7:44 AM To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: Antwort: READ 5 TIMES THE SAME DATA SET

Hi Nicolas

In a data step. the set statement prepares something like an input buffer for the data. No matter how many times your logic passes through that statement, only one set of buffers is prepared. Normally your data step will stop when the input from this set of buffers is exhausted.

A set statement can refer to more than one data set set data.a data.b data.c; Then, when the first data set is finished, sas starts to deliver observations from the next.

These could be the same data set names like set tiers tiers tiers tiers tiers; which delivers all data from the sas data set work.TIERS 5 times.

good luck

Datum: 30/07/2001 11:02 An: SAS-L@listserv.uga.edu

Antwort an: Nicolas Pont <nicolas.pont@UNICIBLE.CH>

Betreff: READ 5 TIMES THE SAME DATA SET Nachrichtentext:

1) Construct a data set with for example 5 records

2) Test this program How can I read for example 5 times all the same data set in the same data step

data test /debug ; /* I would like to read the data set 5 times */ do i=1 to 5 ; /* I read all the data set */ do j=1 to 5 ; set tiers ; end ; end ; run ;

_________________________ Nicolas Pont Unicible

tel: +41 (0)27/327 4208 fax: +41 (0)27/327 4255 mailto:nicolas.pont@unicible.ch

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