Make all SAS tables sortable in the output HTML

Most procedures in SAS generate stylish tables in the output HTML files. An option to sort the tables without bothering SAS again will be very handy for people who are familiar with Excel.

The JavaScript libary jQuery has a number of plug-ins. The tablesorter is one of them, which realizes the column-wise sorting. We only need to add several lines of JavaScript below into the very beginning of a SAS output HTML file. Then all tables in the HTML files are able to be sorted easily by clicking on the table head. For example, the resulting HTML from some SAS codes such as proc print data = sashelp.class; run; with the jQuery plug-in will have sortable effect above.

<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.9.0/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script src="http://cdn.jsdelivr.net/tablesorter/2.0.5b/jquery.tablesorter.min.js"></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function( ) {    
   $('.table').tablesorter({widgets: ['zebra']});
});
</script>

How to do it
First we open the HTML file by any text editor such as Windows Notepad, and the head lines of the file by the SAS command proc print data = sashelp.class; run;  will be like --

The second thing is to copy and paste the 7 lines of JavaSctipt above to the HTML file, just under the title tag. Then all is just done. All SAS tables can be sorted now as long as you have Internet connection. No server or other software is needed.

Another way to do it is to use a SAS macro. Andrew has a nice demo on his blog for implementing it.