topic Re: A DATA MANIPULATION QUESTION - Creating a numbering variable. in SAS Programming

A DATA MANIPULATION QUESTION - Creating a numbering variable.

SAS_Practice — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:08:31 GMT

I have a following data-set (Given) with a character variable "var1". Need to create a numeric variable "var2" where the numbering will be same pattern as the (WANT) dataset ( find it on the bottom of this post). the values of "var2" changes when there is no space in-front of the value of "var1". If there is space in-front of the value of :var1" then "var2" keeps the value from the previous iteration.

GIVEN:

var1

---------------

subject died

subject alive

struggling

sick

In Vacation

Never lived

Gone for good

Never showed up

The WANT dataset should be as below,

var1 var2

---------------------- ---------------------

subject died 10

subject alive 20

struggling 20

sick 20

In Vacation 30

Never lived 40

Gone for good 40

Never showed up 50

Thank you so much.

Re: A DATA MANIPULATION QUESTION - Creating a numbering variable.

Reeza — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:16:57 GMT

Indents are fun.
Use SUBSTR() to check the first character of the string. If it's a space you don't increment your counter, otherwise increment your counter.

data want;
set have;
retain var2 10;
if substr(var1, 1,1) = " " then var2+10;
run;

Re: A DATA MANIPULATION QUESTION - Creating a numbering variable.

novinosrin — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:21:07 GMT

Hello @SAS_Practice I like SCAN

data have;
input var  $char50.;
cards;
subject died
subject alive
     struggling
     sick
In Vacation
Never lived 
     Gone for good
Never showed up
;

data want;
set have;
if scan(var,1,' ','m')>' ' then var2+10;
run;

Re: A DATA MANIPULATION QUESTION - Creating a numbering variable.

data_null__ — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:32:33 GMT

FIRST function?

if not missing(first(var)) then var2+10;

Re: A DATA MANIPULATION QUESTION - Creating a numbering variable.

novinosrin — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:37:37 GMT

Guru @data_null__ That's a great teaser. Well done! 🙂

A similar teaser to @Reeza , char beats substr in golf lol

if char(var,1)>' ' then var2+10;

Re: A DATA MANIPULATION QUESTION - Creating a numbering variable.

Astounding — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 19:07:27 GMT

How about no functions at all?

if var1 >: ' ' then var2 + 10;

Re: A DATA MANIPULATION QUESTION - Creating a numbering variable.

novinosrin — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 19:10:20 GMT

@Astounding Wow. Winner by a mile! Kudos!!!!!!!!

Re: A DATA MANIPULATION QUESTION - Creating a numbering variable.

Ksharp — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 12:29:04 GMT

Here is one more way.

if var not =: ' ' then var2+10;