Which command is essential for creating a new SAS data set in the Sort procedure?

In the Sort procedure in SAS, the OUT= option is essential for creating a new SAS data set. This option specifies the name of the output data set that will store the sorted results. When you utilize the SORT procedure, the OUT= option allows you to store the sorted data in a new data set rather than modifying the original data set directly. This is particularly useful when you want to preserve the original data for further analysis or when you intend to create multiple sorted versions of the data for different analytical purposes.

The OUT= option operates in conjunction with the DATA statement within the PROC SORT step. When you specify the new data set name with OUT=, SAS automatically creates this new data set from the sorted version of the original data set that is specified in the DATA statement. This functionality is crucial for managing data effectively in SAS.

Other options like DATASET, CREATE, and DATA= do not exist in the context of the SORT procedure in a way that fulfills the requirement to create a new output data set. The DATA= option is indeed used in the PROC SORT syntax to specify the input data set rather than the output. Therefore, emphasizing OUT= as the correct choice clarifies its critical role in the creation of a new sorted data set following a