Creating One Observation per Detail Record (1)

Reading Hierarchical Files

Creating One Observation per Detail Record

In order to create one observation per detail record, it is necessary to distinguish between header and detail records. Having a field that identifies the type of the record makes this task easier.

In the raw data file Census, shown below, H indicates a header record that contains a street address and P indicates a detail record that contains information about a person living at that address.

Raw Data File

1---+----10---+----

H 321 S. MAIN ST

P MARY E    21 F

P WILLIAM M 23 M

P SUSAN K    3 F

H 324 S. MAIN ST

P THOMAS H  79 M

P WALTER S  46 M

P ALICE A   42 F

P MARYANN A 20 F

P JOHN S    16 M

H 325A S. MAIN ST

Let's see how you can create a data set that contains one observation for each person living at a specific address.

SAS Data Set

Obs Address Name Age Gender

1 321 S. MAIN ST MARY E 21 F

2 321 S. MAIN ST WILLIAM M 23 M

3 321 S. MAIN ST SUSAN K 3 F

4 324 S. MAIN ST THOMAS H 79 M

5 324 S. MAIN ST WALTER S 46 M

6 324 S. MAIN ST ALICE A 42 F

7 324 S. MAIN ST MARYANN A 20 F

8 324 S. MAIN ST JOHN S 16 M

9 325A S. MAIN ST JAMES L 34 M

10 325A S. MAIN S T LIZA A 31 F

11 325B S. MAIN S T MARGO K 27 F

Obs	Address	Name	Age	Gender
1	321 S. MAIN ST	MARY E	21	F
2	321 S. MAIN ST	WILLIAM M	23	M
3	321 S. MAIN ST	SUSAN K	3	F
4	324 S. MAIN ST	THOMAS H	79	M
5	324 S. MAIN ST	WALTER S	46	M
6	324 S. MAIN ST	ALICE A	42	F
7	324 S. MAIN ST	MARYANN A	20	F
8	324 S. MAIN ST	JOHN S	16	M
9	325A S. MAIN ST	JAMES L	34	M
10	325A S. MAIN S	T LIZA A	31	F
11	325B S. MAIN S	T MARGO K	27	F