topic filtering a variable with Best12 format in SAS Programming

filtering a variable with Best12 format

Batman — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 14:19:37 GMT

If I am filtering a variable with numbers with a "Best12." format, does it matter whether I enclose the filter value in quotes? In other words,

If [varname] = '20'

If [varname]=20

Re: filtering a variable with Best12 format

PaigeMiller — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 14:23:47 GMT

best is a numeric format, so you cannot use the quotes

Re: filtering a variable with Best12 format

Batman — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 14:46:04 GMT

That is what I assumed, but the character filter in line 45 below seems to work. FYI, I'm asking this mundane question to document steps in a program.

30 data _null_;

31 set test1;

32 put termination_code;

33 run;

NOTE: There were 10 observations read from the data set WORK.TEST1.

NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):

real time 0.00 seconds

cpu time 0.01 seconds

2 The SAS System 10:03 Wednesday, April 18, 2018

35 proc contents data=test1 noprint out=var_dat;

36 run;

NOTE: The data set WORK.VAR_DAT has 1 observations and 41 variables.

NOTE: PROCEDURE CONTENTS used (Total process time):

real time 0.04 seconds

cpu time 0.06 seconds

38 data _null_;

39 set var_dat(keep=NAME TYPE LENGTH FORMAT);

40 put _all_;

41 run;

NAME=Termination_Code TYPE=1 LENGTH=8 FORMAT=BEST _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

NOTE: There were 1 observations read from the data set WORK.VAR_DAT.

NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):

real time 0.00 seconds

cpu time 0.00 seconds

43 data _null_;

44 set test1;

45 if termination_code='10' then put termination_code;

46 run;

NOTE: Character values have been converted to numeric values at the places given by: (Line):(Column).

45:22

NOTE: There were 10 observations read from the data set WORK.TEST1.

NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):

real time 0.00 seconds

cpu time 0.00 seconds

Re: filtering a variable with Best12 format

Reeza — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 14:49:54 GMT

It didn't quite work, look at your log closely, specifically:

NOTE: Character values have been converted to numeric values at the places given by: (Line)Column).

45:22

The general rule is don't have these in your log.

If it works, why does it matter?

Because then you can't tell the difference between a real error and where you made a decision to convert data.