Just to make sure that the dataset used in the set statement is sorted, can you explicitly specify output dataset in your sort procedure and retry running your code?

Example: proc sort data=cr.num06 out=cr.num06a; by rpt_rec_num; run;

data num ; set cr.num06a; by rpt_rec_num ; DummyRecNum+1; run;

Thanks, Kiran

-----Original Message----- From: SAS(r) Discussion [mailto:SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Kirby, Ted Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 3:10 AM To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: "BY variables are not properly sorted" error message on sorted data set

I have created a dataset, called "num06" and submitted the following code:

proc sort data=cr.num06; by rpt_rec_num; run; data num ; set cr.num06; by rpt_rec_num ; DummyRecNum+1; run;

and I get the following error:

ERROR: BY variables are not properly sorted on data set CR.NUM06. rpt_rec_num=225759 ws=H010000 line=01100 col=0700 item=-43668 FIRST.rpt_rec_num=0 LAST.rpt_rec_num=1 DummyRecNum=7005469 _ERROR_=1 _N_=7005470 NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors. NOTE: There were 7005471 observations read from the data set CR.NUM06. WARNING: The data set WORK.NUM may be incomplete. When this step was stopped there were 7005469 observations and 6 variables. WARNING: Data set WORK.NUM was not replaced because this step was stopped. NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time): real time 20.75 seconds cpu time 3.76 seconds

When I try to recreate the dataset and rerun the code, I still get the same error, but not necessarily on the same observation (_n_). I have examined the "offending" observation(s) and those around it, but can find nothing that I could determine would cause this problem. (My real program was much more complicated, but the error happened even on this little program.)

Any ideas?

Thanks,

--Ted Kirby, Consultant, The Lewin Group, Inc. 3130 Faivew Park Drive, Suite 800 Falls Church, VA 22042 e-mail: ted.kirby@lewin.com <mailto:ted.kirby@lewin.com> P: (703)269-5507 F: (703)269-5501

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