Characterize Data Task :: SAS(R) Studio 3.4: User's Guide

About the Characterize Data Task

The Characterize Data task creates a summary report of tables and graphs that describe the variables in the input data set. This task can also create frequency and univariate SAS data sets that describe the main characteristics of the data. The Characterize Data task is useful when you are working with a new data set and enables you to better understand the scope and range of the variables in the data.

Example: Characterize Data Task

In this example, you want a better understanding of the contents in the Sashelp.Pricedata data set.

To create this example:

In the Tasks section, expand the Data folder and double-click Characterize Data. The user interface for the Characterize Data task opens.
On the Data tab, select the SASHELP.PRICEDATA data set.

Assign columns to these roles:

Role	Column Name
Automatic Characterization
Variables	sale
Custom Characterization
Categorical variables	regionName
Date variables	date

To run the task, click .

Here is a subset of the results:

Descriptive Statistics for Numeric Variables

Assigning Data to Roles

You must select a data source to run the Characterize Data task, and you must select at least one variable to characterize. This task uses automatic characterization to determine the type for your variable. However, you can override this characterization by using the Custom Characterization options. For example, in the Sashelp.Class data set, Age is automatically treated as a numeric variable. You could override this characterization and specify that Age should be treated as a categorical variable because in the analysis you want to treat each value of Age as a group.

Role	Description
Automatic Characterization
Variables	specifies the variables that you want to analyze.
Custom Characterization
Categorical variables	specifies the frequency tables to produce.
Date variables	specifies the date variables to analyze.
Roles
Grouping variable	specifies that the table is sorted by the selected variable or variables, and a listing is generated for each distinct value, or BY group, in the variable or combination of variables.

Setting Options

Option Name	Description
Categorical Variables
Frequency table	displays a frequency table in the results.
Frequency chart	displays a frequency chart in the results.
Treat missing values as valid level	treats missing values as a valid nonmissing level for all variables in the table.
Limit categorical values	specifies the maximum number of variable levels to display in one-way frequency tables.
Numeric variables
Descriptive statistics	displays the descriptive statistics for any numeric variables that you assigned to the Variables role.
Histogram	displays a histogram for any numeric variables that you assigned to the Variables role.
Date Variables
Display minimum and maximum date	shows the minimum and maximum date for each variable that you assigned to the Date variables role.
Frequency plot	displays a frequency plot in the results.