Dear SAS-L-ers,

Before she bolted out the door to yet another meeting, Suzanne posted the following:

> If you did around in the old SUGI archives you can find a paper written > by Neil Howard. It was about 10 years ago but I found it again > recently. The topic is about how data flows thru the data step and it > has a lot of the file reading tricks and tips that are on the base > certification exam. I'll try to dig it up later today. Off to another > meeting now. > Suzanne, I remember that paper, too--can't think of the title, but it is a classic.

Speaking of classics; one need only backtrack three years to see the latest iteration of this paper on basically the same topic:

How to Think Through the SAS(r) DATA Step, by Ian Whitlock

http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/forum2007/208-2007.pdf

I am sure that the OP can't go wrong with either or both of them on his/her coffee table!

Suzanne, best of luck in all your SAS endeavors!

I hope that this suggestion proves helpful now, and in the future!

Of course, all of these opinions and insights are my own, and do not reflect those of my organization or my associates. All SAS code and/or methodologies specified in this posting are for illustrative purposes only and no warranty is stated or implied as to their accuracy or applicability. People deciding to use information in this posting do so at their own risk.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Michael A. Raithel "The man who wrote the book on performance" E-mail: MichaelRaithel@westat.com

Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the MVS Environment

Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the OS/390 and z/OS Environments, Second Edition http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=58172

Author: The Complete Guide to SAS Indexes http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=60409

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ All my bags are packed I'm ready to go I'm standin' here outside your door ----Leaving on a Jet Plane, John Denver +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++