What does the OUT option enable you to do in PROC SORT?

The OUT option in PROC SORT is designed to specify a new name for the dataset that results from the sorting operation. When you use the OUT option, you can create a separate, sorted dataset with the specified name, leaving the original dataset unchanged. This allows for greater flexibility in data manipulation, as it enables you to preserve the original data while also having access to the newly sorted version under a different name.

For instance, if you have a dataset and you want to sort it based on a certain variable but still keep the original dataset intact for further analysis or operations, you can use the OUT option to accomplish that by setting a new name for the sorted dataset. This ensures that your original dataset remains available for any future use without being altered by the sorting process.

In contrast, options like defining a new variable or creating a temporary dataset do not relate to the functionality of PROC SORT and its OUT option. Generating a report of the original dataset also falls outside the scope of what the OUT option accomplishes, as it is specifically focused on the sorted output.