Producing Frequency Tables (2)

Computing Frequency Distributions

Producing Frequency Tables

Selecting Variables

By default, the FREQ procedure creates frequency tables for every variable in your data set. But this isn't always what you want. A variable with continuous numeric values—such as DateTime—can result in a lengthy and meaningless table. Likewise, a variable with a unique value for each observation—such as FullName—is unsuitable for PROC FREQ processing. Frequency distributions work best with variables that contain repeating values.

To specify variables in the FREQ procedure, include a TABLES statement.

General form, TABLES statement:

TABLES variable(s);

where variable(s) lists the variables to include.

Example
Consider the SAS data set Finance.Loans. The variables Rate and Months have repeating values, so these are the best choices for frequency tables.

SAS Data Set Finance.Loans

Account Amount Rate Months Payment

101-1092
$22,000

10.00%
60
$467.43

101-1731
$114,000

9.50%
360
$958.57

101-1289
$10,000

10.50%
36
$325.02

101-3144
$3,500

10.50%
12
$308.52

103-1135
$8,700

10.50%
24
$403.47

103-1994
$18,500

10.00%
60
$393.07

103-2335
$5,000

10.50%
48
$128.02

103-3864
$87,500

9.50%
360
$735.75

103-3891
$30,000

9.75%
360
$257.75

Account	Amount	Rate	Months	Payment
101-1092	$22,000	10.00%	60	$467.43
101-1731	$114,000	9.50%	360	$958.57
101-1289	$10,000	10.50%	36	$325.02
101-3144	$3,500	10.50%	12	$308.52
103-1135	$8,700	10.50%	24	$403.47
103-1994	$18,500	10.00%	60	$393.07
103-2335	$5,000	10.50%	48	$128.02
103-3864	$87,500	9.50%	360	$735.75
103-3891	$30,000	9.75%	360	$257.75

proc freq data=finance.loans; tables rate months; run;

Rate Frequency Percent Cumulative
Frequency Cumulative
Percent

9.50% 2 22.22 2 22.22

9.75% 1 11.11 3 33.33

10.00% 2 22.22 5 55.56

10.50% 4 44.44 9 100.00

Rate	Frequency	Percent	Cumulative Frequency	Cumulative Percent
9.50%	2	22.22	2	22.22
9.75%	1	11.11	3	33.33
10.00%	2	22.22	5	55.56
10.50%	4	44.44	9	100.00

Months Frequency Percent Cumulative
Frequency Cumulative
Percent

12 1 11.11 1 11.11

24 1 11.11 2 22.22

36 1 11.11 3 33.33

48 1 11.11 4 44.44

60 2 22.22 6 66.67

360 3 33.33 9 100.00

Months	Frequency	Percent	Cumulative Frequency	Cumulative Percent
12	1	11.11	1	11.11
24	1	11.11	2	22.22
36	1	11.11	3	33.33
48	1	11.11	4	44.44
60	2	22.22	6	66.67
360	3	33.33	9	100.00

In addition to listing variables separately, you can use a numbered range of variables.
proc freq data=perm.survey; tables item1-item3; run;

Item1 Frequency Percent Cumulative
Frequency Cumulative
Percent

2 1 25.00 1 25.00

4 2 50.00 3 75.00

5 1 25.00 4 100.00

Item1	Frequency	Percent	Cumulative Frequency	Cumulative Percent
2	1	25.00	1	25.00
4	2	50.00	3	75.00
5	1	25.00	4	100.00

Item2 Frequency Percent Cumulative
Frequency Cumulative
Percent

1 1 25.00 1 25.00

3 2 50.00 3 75.00

5 1 25.00 4 100.00

Item2	Frequency	Percent	Cumulative Frequency	Cumulative Percent
1	1	25.00	1	25.00
3	2	50.00	3	75.00
5	1	25.00	4	100.00

Item3 Frequency Percent Cumulative
Frequency Cumulative
Percent

4 3 75.00 3 75.00

5 1 25.00 4 100.00

Item3	Frequency	Percent	Cumulative Frequency	Cumulative Percent
4	3	75.00	3	75.00
5	1	25.00	4	100.00