topic Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable in SAS Data Management

Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

dr2014 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:06:33 GMT

Hi ,

I need to know the minimum and maximum values of a numeric variable(var1) using data steps. I need the minimum and maximum values to recall them in the proc univariate code I am using to create a histogram. I need those values to specify the range for the x axis. I need to create a generic code for the minimum and maximum values as the histogram will be created for a different datasets every time. I am looking to create a macro of the proc univariate code.

Here is an example of the code I am working on:

proc univariate data =final;

var var1;

histogram / midpoints= 4 to 36 by 0.5;

run;

Now: instead of '4' , I need a variable name/code that translates into the minimum value of the variable and instead of '36' I need a variable name/code that translates into the maximum value of the variable.

i.e.

proc univariate data=final;

var var1;

histogram /midpoints= (code for minimum value) to (code for maximum value) by 0.5;

run;

Also, proc univariate does allow to output a dataset with the minimum and maximum values by using the syntax..

output out=strengthstats min=variable name of minimum value max=variable name of maximum values;

Any suggestion on how to pull these variables from the strengthstats dataset is also welcome.

Please let me know your ides and thoughts on it. Thanks.

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

Reeza — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:15:39 GMT

Also, proc univariate does allow to output a dataset with the minimum and maximum values by using the syntax..

output out=strengthstats min=variable name of minimum value max=variable name of maximum values;

Yes, proc univariate can produce a dataset with min/max via syntax.

Why do you need a data step?

I think you're venturing into macro variables and macro programming, have you looked into that at all?

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

ballardw — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:41:08 GMT

And if you need to summarize data before proc univariate to get a desired histogram you might as well look into the actual graphing procedures such as SGPLOT where you would have much more control. For instance you could specify the NBINS, number of bins to display, option for a HISTOGRAM in SGPLOT and worry about specific limits.

That might quite helpful if you have many similar variables that might shift the median but are supposed to have similar distributions.

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

dr2014 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:43:22 GMT

Yes, I am familiar with macro variables and programming. As I mentioned , I am defining a macro which with contain the proc univariate code to develop histograms. The input data sets will be different and the minimum and maximum values for the variable var1 will be different each time for different datasets. Although , I am able to get summary stats with proc univariate, I have to output the min and max values to another dataset as I will be using the noprint option. I am looking to have a generic code that pulls in the minimum and maximum values in the midpoints option. I cannot put actual numbers in the midpoints option as the datasets are going to be different all the time. I hope I explained everything clearly. Do you have any suggestions for me ? I would appreciate your help.

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

dr2014 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:51:37 GMT

@ballardw I do not want to summarize the data . I am happy with the histogram I got on the sample dataset (bin size etc) and I want to move forward with proc univariate. My problem is I want a code that will determine the minimum and maximum value of the var1 variable. proc sql has the min and max function for pulling the minimum and maximum value of column data. Wish there was something like in in data steps.

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

Reeza — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:54:50 GMT

You can use proc univariate to generate the output data set even with the no print option. The output dataset can then be used to create macro variables via call symputX. Or you can use proc sql directly. Please see the code below.

/*create datasets with min/max of variable*/

proc univariate data=sashelp.class noprint;

var weight;

output out=want1 min=weight_min max=weight_max;

run;

proc print data=want1;

run;

/*create macro variables using proc sql, check log for results*/

proc sql noprint;

select min(weight), max(weight) into :weight_min, :weight_max

from sashelp.class;

quit;

%put weight_min = &weight_min;

%put weight_max = &weight_max;

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

dr2014 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 19:24:37 GMT

@Reeza. I did create the output data set with the minimum and maximum values in spite of the noprint option. But, I needed to pull those values in the midpoints option and the output dataset was not helping. I did try proc sql and created a table with the minimum and maximum values but didn't think further of assigning macros there. The macros using proc sql will work perfect in what I want to accomplish. Thanks so much !

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

Reeza — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 19:31:23 GMT

Glad you got it working. Please mark your question(s) answered.

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

dr2014 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 19:42:01 GMT

How do I do that ? I figured it the first time, but for now I have been searching for it. I couldn't do it for my last question as well.

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

Reeza — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 19:45:57 GMT

Go to the main page of your question, not the communications page and you can mark the question answered.

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

dr2014 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 20:20:15 GMT

Thanks. I will do it right away.

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

dr2014 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 20:37:16 GMT

For some reason it doesn't work. I have asked SAS support for help.

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

AnnaBrown — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 21:07:08 GMT

Hi dr2014, I'm Anna Brown, community manager. I'm not sure why you're not seeing the button to mark correct or helpful answers. I can mark them for you. Which specific answer would you like to mark correct, and any as helpful?

Thanks for your contributions to the community!

Best,

Anna

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

dr2014 — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 16:30:39 GMT

Just fyi annabrown@sas.. the button for correct or helpful answers were not showing up when I used Internet Explorer, but does show up when I use Firefox . So I got to it finally. Thanks,

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

AnnaBrown — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:44:40 GMT

Oh good to hear you saw it at last, dr2014. I'm sorry about the browser issue - thank you for bringing it to our attention. We are looking into it with the communities platform.

Anna

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

Community_Help — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 19:39:10 GMT

Hi dr2014, by chance could you please advise what version of IE you are using?

Re: Minimum and maximum value of numeric variable

dr2014 — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 19:41:23 GMT

It is 11. Thanks.