topic Combining 2 columns with numeric data (with a twist) in SAS Programming

Combining 2 columns with numeric data (with a twist)

ahassanin777 — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 02:31:07 GMT

As part of a large data set, 2 of my columns need to be combined with observations (from column A) replacing blanks (in column B), while at the same time having all observations from column B stay in the final output. To clarify further all observations from column A with the value "9" (only this value) need to be replaced by whatever is in Column B in the final output.

Here is an example data:

ID Column A Column B Desired output

A1 1 . 1

A2 3 . 3

A3 4 . 4

A4 9 7 7

A5 9 7 7

A6 4 . 4

A7 6 . 6

A8 1 . 1

A9 9 8 8

Thanks!

Re: Combining 2 columns with numeric data (with a twist)

novinosrin — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 02:54:44 GMT

Hi are you asking for an if then?

data want;

set have;
colb=coalesce(colb,col_a);
desired=ifn(col_a=9,colb,col_a);

run;

Re: Combining 2 columns with numeric data (with a twist)

Patrick — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 02:54:56 GMT

data sample;
  infile datalines dlm=' ' dsd;
  input ID $ Column_A Column_B Desired_output;
  want=ifn(Column_A=9,Column_B,Column_A);
  datalines;
A1 1 . 1
A2 3 . 3
A3 4 . 4 
A4 9 7 7
A5 9 7 7
A6 4 . 4
A7 6 . 6
A8 1 . 1
A9 9 8 8
;
run;

Re: Combining 2 columns with numeric data (with a twist)

Tom — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 03:12:55 GMT

Perhaps your test data does not show the actual complexity?

Looks like you just want to use the COALESCE() function.

want  = coalesce(B,A);

Re: Combining 2 columns with numeric data (with a twist)

ahassanin777 — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 04:17:33 GMT

It worked. Thank you very much!