DELETE Statement

Stops processing the current observation

Valid: in a DATA step

Category: Action

Type: Executable

Syntax

DELETE ;

Without Arguments

When DELETE executes, the current observation is not written to a data set, and SAS returns immediately to the beginning of the DATA step for the next iteration.

Details

The DELETE statement is often used in a THEN clause of an IF-THEN statement or as part of a conditionally executed DO group .

Comparisons

Use the DELETE statement when it is easier to specify a condition that excludes observations from the data set or when there is no need to continue processing the DATA step statements for the current observation.
Use the subsetting IF statement when it is easier to specify a condition for including observations.
Do not confuse the DROP statement with the DELETE statement. The DROP statement excludes variables from an output data set; the DELETE statement excludes observations.

Examples

Example 1: Using the DELETE Statement as Part of an IF-THEN Statement

When the value of LEAFWT is missing, the current observation is deleted:

 if leafwt=. then delete;

Example 2: Using the DELETE Statement to Subset Raw Data

 data topsales;     infile  file-specification  ;     input region office product yrsales;     if yrsales<100000 then delete;  run;