Setting Up a Table

Creating Tabular Reports

Setting Up a Table

The key to using PROC TABULATE is planning.

Unlike PROC PRINT, PROC TABULATE doesn't create default reports. So, before you begin writing a PROC TABULATE step, it's a good idea to sketch the table you want.

sketch of table

After you sketch the table, you can write the basic code to compute the statistics you want to display.
When you are satisfied with the basic report, you can add options and statements to modify its appearance. In fact, once you define the basic structure of your table, enhancing it is easy.

sketch table, compute numbers, evaluate table, enhance report

So, how do you begin to sketch your table?

To set up a table with PROC TABULATE, you need to identify the data you are analyzing, and then determine

which variables, if any, you need to classify your data
which variables, if any, you need to analyze your data
the type of table you need to represent your data.

Try to picture your first table. You need to create a table analyzing all patients admitted to a wellness clinic, with

columns displaying the average age for patients
rows displaying categories for patient activity levels.