Date:         Wed, 23 Dec 1998 16:13:14 -0600
Reply-To:     "Torres, Zzequiel" <Zzequiel.Torres@TRANSAMERICA.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Torres, Zzequiel" <Zzequiel.Torres@TRANSAMERICA.COM>
Subject:      Re: OBS= equivalent for output datasets?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Have you tried...
 
_n_
 
easy example:
 
data yourstep (keep= whatever this that here there);
 set example.sasdata;
   if _n_ > 500 then stop; /* you'll get 499, it will read the 500th
ob(record) then stop */
   run;
 
or  note the difference......
 
data yourstep (keep= whatever this that here there);
 set example.sasdata;
  if your logic here;
   if _n_ > 500 then stop; /* you'll get 499, it will read the 500th
ob(record) then stop */
   run;
  in this last example because you have logic (if , where, /* whatever
*/ ) it does not mean you'll get 499!
 
the _n_ is just a counter of where sas is in the PDV execution loop.
its very handy for testing code prior to letting it loose on MONSTER
datasets and debugging long/intricate jobs.   you could build bigger
conditions with _n_.
 
hth.  =)
 
zt.
 
>----------
>From:  Jeff J. Voeller[SMTP:atrocity@MY-DEJANEWS.COM]
>Sent:  Wednesday, December 23, 1998 2:53 PM
>To:    SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU
>Subject:       OBS= equivalent for output datasets?
>
>We all know that SAS has that nifty little OBS= option for running tests on
>small portions of input datasets.  But is there a way to apply similar logic
>to an output dataset?
>
>In other words, I want to process a DATA step until the result data reaches a
>certain number of observations, regardless of how many observations in the
>input dataset need to be read.
>
>For those familiar with SyncSort, what I'm suggesting is akin to how its
>STOPAFT= parameter works.
>
>I guess I could initialize a counter and then STOP when it hits my desired
>number...
>
>Thanks for any suggestions.
>
>
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