topic Choosing random character value in SAS Programming

Choosing random character value

VinitvictorCorr — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 05:52:16 GMT

i want to assign a random string to a variable. If say i have to pick a character from the below list. can you suggest me a code?

"a","c","m","s","f","o"

Thanks

Re: Choosing random character value

PeterClemmensen — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 06:00:39 GMT

Do something like this

data _null_;
   array _{6} $ ('a','c','m','s','f','o');
   idx=rand('integer', 1, dim(_));
   RandLetter=_[idx];

   put RandLetter=;
run;

Re: Choosing random character value

VinitvictorCorr — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 06:02:54 GMT

thanks again @PeterClemmensen 🙂

Re: Choosing random character value

VinitvictorCorr — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 06:03:46 GMT

i tried rand before, but it said it wouldn't work on character values,but this is great

Re: Choosing random character value

FreelanceReinh — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 10:56:23 GMT

@VinitvictorCorr wrote:
i tried rand before, but it said it wouldn't work on character values,but this is great

Alternative techniques to let RAND "work on character values" include

the CHAR function (for single characters):

RandLetter=char('acmsfo',rand('integer',6));

the CHOOSEC function (for strings of any lengths):

RandLetter=choosec(rand('integer',6),'a','c','m','s','f','o');

the SCAN function (for strings of any lengths):

RandLetter=scan('a c m s f o',rand('integer',6));

Re: Choosing random character value

novinosrin — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:13:04 GMT

Sir @FreelanceReinh Really love your CHOOSEC. My oh my honestly didn't expect, While it's easy to acknowledge the charm of how your thought process works, I recall Guru @data_null__ effecting the use of such functions and many more to super effect in his SAS-L posts. I wonder if SAS-L still exists, and if yes DN is even on it anymore. Anyways, Just goes to prove, great minds think alike i.e you, king, PG, hashman etc are in a league of your own. Class act!

Re: Choosing random character value

FreelanceReinh — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:08:02 GMT

Thanks, @novinosrin, but I'm not sure what's so inventive about using those character functions with a random number argument. 🙂

Regarding SAS-L: Since they started requiring a login even for read access (less than 6 years ago; at least my old links suddenly didn't work anymore, but led to a login screen) I haven't been there. But it was a valuable source of information for me in my earlier years (only reading, not posting). Luckily, a few of the SAS-L giants have joined the SAS Support Communities.

Re: Choosing random character value

novinosrin — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:16:16 GMT

I meant, it's not about the inventive, it's just that not many would even think or search along the lines finding a function for a cause and would rather go with we/they know. I guess it's the presence of mind to look for what and where let alone how simple or complex that may be.

I am also glad that some of the SAS-L are right here. 🙂

Re: Choosing random character value

ballardw — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:36:34 GMT

And if for some reason you would like to have a random but not uniform chance of selection something like:

idx=rand('table', 0.2, 0.4, 0.1, 0.05, 0.15, 0.1);
RandLetter=_[idx];

You need to know the number of elements selected from and the numbers represent the percentage of selecting that position. They must add to 1 or you will either get a n+1 possible response if the sum is less than 1 with the probability not included in the total or examine the documentation as the possibilities get a bit harder to explain quickly.

Re: Choosing random character value

VinitvictorCorr — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 03:57:51 GMT

wow,, thats awesome.. didnt know about these functions in sas.. Thanks 🙂