A Simple yet Effective Way to Perform a Variable Cross Walk Between Multiple Datasets

Analyzing data from multiple complex datasets requires that analysts have knowledge of each dataset’s structure. Comparing variable names, labels, and formats between more than two complex datasets can be challenging. A data dictionary and SAS procedures such as PROC COMPARE are commonly used to complete this task. However, PROC COMPARE only allows comparison of two datasets at a time. We present relatively simple procedures that data analysts can use to identify the changes in the structures of two or more than two datasets which can pinpoint areas in which existing SAS code need to be modified to account for changes in the variable names, labels, or formats.