There are some fundamental differences between how a data step and Proc SQL approach connecting tables. In a data step, we refer to this as merging tables whereas in Proc SQL we call it joining tables. The differences don't end in the naming conventions. Both aim to perform similar tasks, that is, to make connections between various tables and help bring across variables and observations from tables into a common table. The in-built functionalities available in SAS and the general differences in capabilities between data steps and Proc SQL will also yield different results or could lead to varying complexity in achieving the same output.
The following points are the fundamental differences between data steps and Proc SQL:
- The data step requires merged tables to be sorted. Proc SQL has no such requirement. This can be a big saving not just...