Date:         Wed, 5 Dec 2001 12:26:25 -0500
Reply-To:     "Jeffrey P. Crabb" <jeff_crabb@MASTERCARD.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Jeffrey P. Crabb" <jeff_crabb@MASTERCARD.COM>
Subject:      Re: Syncsort for windows
Comments: To: Stefan Svensson <Stefan.svensson@SCB.SE>

On Wed, 5 Dec 2001 04:33:11 -0500, Stefan <Stefan.svensson@SCB.SE> wrote:

>HELLO
>
>I have a question about Syncsort for windows.
>Can i use it from SAS to sort SAS-datasets and
>is it faster than SAS proc sort.
>
>Regards
>
>Stefan

Stefan,

I don't know much about Syncsort for Windows, but on UNIX it is
significantly faster than the SAS sorting routines (even the parallel sort
processing).  You should benchmark some various sized files to comepare the
results.  Try file sizes of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 million records.  Have at
least two variables to sort by and try your sorts several times.  (Put
these in a macro then let 'er rip.)  Check your log files for the time
differnces.

Your options for syncsort are
    OPTIONS
        sortpgm  = host
        sortname = syncsort
        sortdev  = 'path_for_sort_work_area'
        sortlib  = 'path_to_syncsort_library'
    ;
If syncsort and your machine are configured properly, you may not need the
last two options (sortdev & sortlib).

HTH,
Jeff Crabb