In the context of SAS reports, what does the term 'subtotals' refer to?

In SAS reports, the term 'subtotals' specifically refers to the sums or aggregates of data that are calculated for each group within the report. This means that when you group your data by specific categories or criteria, subtotals provide a summary of the measurements or values for those groups. For instance, if you are analyzing sales data grouped by regions, the subtotals would represent the total sales for each region rather than for the entire dataset.

The concept of subtotals is crucial for breaking down data and making reports more informative, as it helps to highlight trends or performance within distinct categories. Using subtotals can offer insights that might be lost when only looking at grand totals across the entire dataset. This distinction enhances readability and clarity in reports.

In other contexts, totals for the entire dataset, headers for columns, or variables lacking data do not align with the definition of subtotals, which specifically focuses on grouped data calculations. Understanding this terminology is essential for effective reporting and data analysis in SAS.