SAS Functions – Learn the 4 Major Types of Functions with Examples

Through this SAS function cheat sheet, you will be learning different types of functions in SAS. You will also understand how SAS functions can be used to make our program less lengthy and easy to read with the help of examples.

Let’s quickly start the tutorial.

SAS Functions

Functions are applied to a single variable or to a set of variables for analyzing and processing data. There are hundreds of built-in functions in SAS, we will be looking at the most frequently used and important ones.

SAS Functions syntax:

FUNCTIONNAME(argument1, argument2….argumentn)

Types of Functions in SAS

SAS Functions can be divided into different types depending on their usage and the task they perform. Below are the different types of functions in SAS:

1. SAS Arithmetic Functions

These functions are also called SAS Numeric functions. It performs mathematical operations on an argument or a set of arguments.

Example-

data Math_functions;
v1=21; v2=42; v3=13; v4=10; v5=29;
/* Get Maximum value */
max_val = MAX(v1,v2,v3,v4,v5);
/* Get Minimum value */
min_val = MIN (v1,v2,v3,v4,v5);
/* Get Median value */
med_val = MEDIAN (v1,v2,v3,v4,v5);
/* Get a random number */
rand_val = RANUNI(0);
/* Get Square root of sum of the values */
SR_val= SQRT(sum(v1,v2,v3,v4,v5));
proc print data = Math_functions noobs;
run;

Output-

2. SAS Character (String) Functions

The most frequently used string functions have been explained in detail in our SAS String tutorial.

3. SAS Date and Time Functions

These SAS functions are used to perform operations on date and time values.

Example-

data date_functions;
INPUT @1 date1 date9. @11 date2 date9.;
format date1 date9.  date2 date9.;
/* Get the interval between the dates in years*/
Years_ = INTCK('YEAR',date1,date2);
/* Get the interval between the dates in months*/
months_ = INTCK('MONTH',date1,date2);
/* Get the week day from the date*/
weekday_ =  WEEKDAY(date1);
/* Get Today's date in SAS date format */
today_ = TODAY();
/* Get current time in SAS time format */
time_ = time();
DATALINES;
21OCT2000 16AUG1998
01MAR2009 11JUL2012;
proc print data = date_functions noobs;
run;

Output-

4. SAS Truncation Functions

These SAS functions return integer values by rounding up the data values.

Example-

data trunc_functions;
/* Nearest greatest integer */
ceil_ = CEIL(11.85);
/* Nearest greatest integer */
floor_ = FLOOR(11.85);
/* Integer portion of a number*/
int_ = INT(32.41);
/* Round off to nearest value */
round_ = ROUND(5621.78);
run;
proc print data = trunc_functions noobs;
run;

Output-

Summary

We discussed some of the frequently used SAS functions:

• Numeric Functions
• Date Functions
• Time Functions
• Truncation Functions
• Character functions

These functions can be applied to any set of arguments to make our analysis and search easier.

Any feedback or queries? Enter in the comments section. We will be glad to hear from you.