PROC SQL Basics (1)

Performing Queries Using SQL

PROC SQL Basics

PROC SQL is SAS software's implementation of Structured Query Language, or SQL, a standardized language that is widely used to retrieve and update data in tables and views based on those tables.

The chart below compares data processing terminology, SAS terminology, and SQL terminology.

Date Processing SAS SQL
File SAS Data Set Table
Record Observation Row
Field Variable Column

Date Processing	SAS	SQL
File	SAS Data Set	Table
Record	Observation	Row
Field	Variable	Column

You can use PROC SQL to

retrieve and manipulate SAS tables
add or modify data values in a table
add, modify, or drop columns in a table
create tables
generate reports.

PROC SQL also enables you to join multiple tables in fairly sophisticated ways, even if the tables do not contain a common variable.

In addition, PROC SQL lets you combine data from two or more different types of data sources and present them as a single table. For example, you can combine data from two different types of external databases. Or you can combine data from an external database and a SAS data set.

External databases and SAS Data Set boxes