Get a first occurrence in a query

[dbdinc]

In a sotred process being coded in EG, is there a way, in a query, to obtain the first occurrence of a data field? Something like the following pseudocode....

Create table suchandsuch;
first requestedfield
fieldb
fieldc
first fieldd
quit;
run;

In short, say I have 10 occurrences of a record (no, not duplicates) for Joe Schmoe, but I only want to gather info for the first occurrence. I know how to do this in MS Access queries, but haven't seen anything about it for stored processes.

 

[ChrisW75]

Use a datastep with by group processing.

data suchandsuch;
  set mydata;
  by person_id;

  if first.person_id then output suchandsuch;
run;

Should do the job for you.

Chris
Business Analyst, Code Monkey, Data Wrangler.
SAS Guru.

 

[dbdinc]

Thanks, Chris,

I already got that solution from other sources, but do appreciate you replying. I jusdt couldn't wait several days and therefore researched other sources of information.

 

[ChrisW75]

No worries, I've been on holiday in Peru.

Chris
Business Analyst, Code Monkey, Data Wrangler.
SAS Guru.

 

[dbdinc]

How nice! Hope you enjoyed Peru. My wife and I are thining of Ecuador and Galapagos next year. Have you been there? If so, what is a good way to see the Galapagos?

 

[ChrisW75]

Nah, just Peru.

Chris
Business Analyst, Code Monkey, Data Wrangler.
SAS Guru.