Summary
Statements
RETAIN variable-1 <
. . . variable-n>;
retains the value of variable for
use in a subsequent observation. The RETAIN statement prevents the
value of the variable from being reinitialized to missing when control
returns to the top of the DATA step.
The RETAIN statement
affects variables that are created in the current DATA step (for example,
variables that are created with an INPUT or assignment statement).
Variables that are read with a SET, MERGE, or UPDATE statement are
retained automatically. Naming them in a RETAIN statement has no effect.
The RETAIN statement can assign an initial value to a variable. If a variable needs to have the same value in all observations of a DATA step, then it is more efficient to put the ...
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