SAS Tips: Printing all variables for a single observation

It is not uncommon to want to examine all variables for a single observation. That is, for data sets containing lots of variables, print out the values for all variables on a single page. The following code will achieve this:

proc fsbrowse data=hit.cases label printall;
run;

The LABEL option causes variable labels to be printed rather than variable names.

The number of observations can be restricted using a WHERE statement and the number of variables can be restricted using the VAR statement. For example:

proc fsbrowse data=hit.cases label
printall;
where sex=2;
var kon--ulorsak;
run;

It is also possible to invoke the procedure using the FSBROWSE command. For example, type fsbrowse hit.cases in the command line and use the PageUp and PageDown keys to scroll through the observations.

The ‘FS’ in FSBROWSE stands for full screen. A similar procedure, PROC FSEDIT, allows editing of the SAS data set. It is possible to create customised screens and data entry procedures which include error checking.

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Paul Dickman
Paul Dickman
Professor of Biostatistics

Biostatistician working with register-based cancer epidemiology.