It's not always easy to choose between Proc SQL and Data Step programming. In this tips and tricks, we will see the big differences between Proc SQL and Data Step and list the pro's and the con's of both of them.

In SAS, you can choose between Proc SQL and Data Step when you do data manipulation. Do the two methods generate the same results? Are they both efficient in terms of data processing or ease of use? When should I use one technic or the other technic?
In this tips and tricks, we will compare both methods on the basis of the following:

• Read one input and create one or several output
• Read several input and create one output or several
• Code complex algorithms implying lot of variables
• Aggregate results
• Create simple or complex report
• Read non SAS files (flat or database)

You have some SAS experience and would like to create compare Proc SQL and SAS Data step