Create and redefine variables (1 of 3)

Overview

Often, when you work with data sets, it's useful to create completely new variables or new variables that are based on the values of existing variables. These new variables can contain the results of SAS functions, conditionally-assigned values, or running totals of other variable values.

Creating and redefining variables

You can create variables in a DATA step in the following ways:

by using an assignment statement
by reading data with the INPUT statement in a DATA step
by specifying a new variable in a FORMAT or INFORMAT statement
by specifying a new variable in a LENGTH statement
by specifying a new variable in an ATTRIB statement.

When you create variables using assignment statements, you can take advantage of SAS functions and SAS expressions.