This tutorial explains how to add or delete columns in a table and update column values with PROC SQL.
ALTER TABLE Syntax
In the following program, we are adding 3 columns - Section as character variable, TotalMarks as numeric variable, DateOfBirth as Date format variable. The new columns would be blank.
Example 2 : Add Values in New Columns
Example 3 : Conditional Update Statement
We can update multiple columns with UPDATE statement like the programs written below -
We can modify the column format with MODIFY statement.
We are preventing missing values in a column using NOT NULL Contraint.
We are not allowing duplicate values in a column.
The PRIMARY KEY constraint uniquely identifies each record in a table.
Related Article : How to Insert Rows with PROC SQL
The ALTER TABLE statement is used to add new columns, delete existing columns or modifying the format of columns.
The UPDATE statement is used to modify existing column values in a table.Create a Dataset
data temp;
set sashelp.class;
run;
ALTER TABLE Syntax
ALTER TABLE table-name
ADD CONSTRAINT constraint-name constraint-definition
ADD column-definition
DROP CONSTRAINT constraint-name
DROP column(s)
DROP FOREIGN KEY constraint-name
DROP PRIMARY KEY
MODIFY column-definition
Example 1 : Adding Columns
In the following program, we are adding 3 columns - Section as character variable, TotalMarks as numeric variable, DateOfBirth as Date format variable. The new columns would be blank.
PROC SQL;
ALTER TABLE temp ADD Section CHAR (10), TotalMarks NUM (8),
DateOfBirth num informat=date7. format=date7.;
QUIT;
 |
| ALTER Table : Add Columns |
Example 2 : Add Values in New Columns
The UPDATE statement is used to add or update values in columns. In this case, we are updating rows wherein age is less than 15.
PROC SQL;
UPDATE temp SET Section='Section A', TotalMarks=100, DateOfBirth='22OCT99'D where age < 15;
QUIT;
 |
| Update Columns |
Example 3 : Conditional Update Statement
We are adding 5 to column Height if age is less than or equal to 15. If age is greater than 15, height should be added by 10. In other words, we are using IF THEN ELSE conditions in UPDATE statement.
PROC SQL;
UPDATE temp
SET Height =
CASE WHEN age <= 15 THEN Height + 5
WHEN age > 15 THEN Height + 10
ELSE HEIGHT
END;
QUIT;
Example 4 : Update Multiple Columns
We can update multiple columns with UPDATE statement like the programs written below -
PROC SQL;
ALTER TABLE temp ADD min_age num , min_height num;
UPDATE temp
SET min_age = (SELECT MIN(age) FROM temp2),
min_height = (SELECT MIN(height) FROM temp2);
QUIT;
PROC SQL;Example 5 : Modify the column attributes
UPDATE temp SET Section='SectionB', DateOfBirth='22OCT02'D where age<15;
UPDATE temp SET Section='SectionA', DateOfBirth='22OCT99'D where age>=15;
QUIT;
We can modify the column format with MODIFY statement.
PROC SQL;
ALTER TABLE temp
MODIFY totalmarks DECIMAL(8,2) format=8.2;quit;
Example 6 : Delete Columns
PROC SQL;Example 7 : Adding NOT NULL Constraint
ALTER TABLE temp DROP totalmarks, section;
QUIT;
We are preventing missing values in a column using NOT NULL Contraint.
PROC SQL;
ALTER TABLE TEMP
ADD CONSTRAINT NOT_NULL_WEIGHT NOT NULL(WEIGHT);QUIT;
Example 8 : Adding CHECK Constraint
We are validating column values with CHECK constraint.See the example below -
PROC SQL;Example 9 : Allowing only UNIQUE values
ALTER TABLE PRODUCTS
ADD CONSTRAINT CHECK_SECTION
CHECK (SECTION IN ('Section A', 'Section B'));
QUIT;
We are not allowing duplicate values in a column.
PROC SQL;Example 10 : Creating a Primary Key
CREATE TABLE TEMP3
(ID NUM UNIQUE,
STATE CHAR(20));
QUIT;
The PRIMARY KEY constraint uniquely identifies each record in a table.
PROC SQL;
ALTER TABLE TEMP3
ADD CONSTRAINT PRIM_KEY PRIMARY KEY (ID);
QUIT;
Related Article : How to Insert Rows with PROC SQL