Array Processing

Definitions for Array Processing

array

is a temporary grouping of SAS variables that are arranged in a particular order and identified by an array-name. The array exists only for the duration of the current DATA step. The array-name distinguishes it from any other arrays in the same DATA step; it is not a variable.

Note: Arrays in SAS are different from those in many other programming languages. In SAS, an array is not a data structure but is just a convenient way of temporarily identifying a group of variables. [cautionend]

array processing

is a method that enables you to perform the same tasks for a series of related variables.

array reference

is a method to reference the elements of an array.

one-dimensional array

is a simple grouping of variables that, when processed, results in output that can be represented in simple row format.

multidimensional array

is a more complex grouping of variables that, when processed, results in output that could have two or more dimensions, such as columns and rows.

Basic array processing involves the following steps:

grouping variables into arrays
selecting a current variable for an action
repeating an action

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