Calculate values for the computed variable. This compute block computes the value of Perish from the values for the Meat/Dairy department and the Produce department. Because the variables Sales and Department collectively define these columns, there is no way to identify the values to PROC REPORT by name. Therefore, the assignment statement uses column numbers to unambiguously specify the values to use. Each time PROC REPORT needs a value for Perish, it sums the values in the third and fourth columns of that row of the report.

   compute perish;
      perish=sum(_c3_, _c4_);
   endcomp;