topic Re: Why "else" doesn't get executed? in SAS Programming

Why "else" doesn't get executed?

asimraja — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 23:46:21 GMT

Hi,

This is driving me crazy as, this is too simple, but I may be too tired to see what is wrong.

In the code below, I have a snippet from a data step. When "LnMonthsToFinalStepCount " is missing, then instead of "Step_indicator = 'Never Step', I keep getting 'Finished Stepping'. What am I missing?

Thank you for your help!

Code:

        length Step_Indicator $20;
       if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount >= 0 then
           Step_Indicator = 'Currently Stepping';
       else if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0 then
           Step_Indicator = 'Finished Stepping';
       else
           Step_Indicator = 'Never Step';

Re: Why "else" doesn't get executed?

novinosrin — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 23:52:38 GMT

in sas sort sequence . (missing) is smaller than 0, that's the reason

therefore when LnMonthsToFinalStepCount is missing the statement if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0 evaluates to true

Re: Why "else" doesn't get executed?

novinosrin — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 23:51:26 GMT

if you want else statement to execute, you would have to change the code to

Code:

        length Step_Indicator $20;
       if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount >= 0 then
           Step_Indicator = 'Currently Stepping';
       else if not missing(LnMonthsToFinalStepCount ) and LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0 and then
           Step_Indicator = 'Finished Stepping';
       else
           Step_Indicator = 'Never Step';

Re: Why "else" doesn't get executed?

asimraja — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 23:56:22 GMT

Thank you very much!

Re: Why "else" doesn't get executed?

ballardw — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 00:27:37 GMT

@novinosrin wrote:

if you want else statement to execute, you would have to change the code to

Code:

        length Step_Indicator $20;
       if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount >= 0 then
           Step_Indicator = 'Currently Stepping';
       else if not missing(LnMonthsToFinalStepCount ) and LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0 and then
           Step_Indicator = 'Finished Stepping';
       else
           Step_Indicator = 'Never Step';

Shorter

if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount >= 0 then
           Step_Indicator = 'Currently Stepping';
       else if . < LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0 then
           Step_Indicator = 'Finished Stepping';
       else
           Step_Indicator = 'Never Step';