What does the COMPRESS option do in PROC FREQ?

The COMPRESS option in PROC FREQ is used to optimize the display of frequency tables by starting the next frequency table on the same page, provided there is enough space available. This is particularly useful when generating reports or output that includes multiple frequency tables, as it makes the display more compact and easier to read without unnecessary page breaks.

Using the COMPRESS option helps in making efficient use of space in your output, ensuring that all the relevant information is presented together as much as possible, which enhances the overall readability of the results. It prevents excessive white space from appearing between tables when there might be room to display additional information, thus giving a cleaner layout.

The other options do not accurately describe the function of the COMPRESS option. For instance, while frequency tables may indeed include or exclude certain data points, the specific functionalities pertaining to pagination and inclusion of missing values are handled differently and are not what the COMPRESS option relates to. This makes the choice of beginning display of the next frequency table on the same page if space allows the correct understanding of the option's purpose within PROC FREQ.