How often do you get a LOG file surprise telling you that the variable length of similarly named variables differs in more than one data source when you are trying to merge, or append them? Data Dictionaries serve a critical role in helping a user know his data within a dataset, but they do not enable a user to get the bird’s eye view that is also needed across a database. This paper details an effective way to determine variable name, length, type, and format consistency across multiple SAS datasets in a database. It uses the features of PROC CONTENTS, The Data Step, and PROC TABULATE to produce a report that indicates, at a glance, any discrepancies in name, length, type, or format characteristics. The “Variable Dictionary”, like the “Data Dictionary” is a tool that every database manager should not be without! In a few easy steps you can keep your data clean, and know what to fix, if it is not. In an enhanced version of the application it is also possible to indicate KEY variables used across all SAS datasets in your database to determine observation uniqueness, and possible merge combinations.
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