topic Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when... in SAS Programming

How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Flexluthorella — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 12:54:10 GMT

How do you create a temp dataset multiplying all numeric variables (I coded as oldvar{*} since I do not know them all) by 3 from an original dataset into a new dataset without overwriting the original numbers? Like its similar to the following code but I dont want them replaced in the orginal dataset, I want them in a new data set called newvar. See below for incorrect code:

do i = 1 - dim(oldvar);

if oldvar(i) then 999 then call missing (newvar{i});

end;

drop i;

run;

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

PeterClemmensen — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 12:59:59 GMT

Just for my own understanding, if your data looks like this

data have;
input oldvar1-oldvar3 (c1-c3)(:$);
datalines;
1 2 3 a b c
;

You want the resulting data to look like this, correct?

data want;
input oldvar1-oldvar3 newvar1-newvar3 (c1-c3)(:$);
datalines;
1 2 3 3 6 9 a b c
;

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

PaigeMiller — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:04:02 GMT

@Flexluthorella wrote:

I dont want them replaced in the orginal dataset, I want them in a new data set called newvar.

Do you mean you want a new VARIABLE called newvar? Your title says you want a new variable, your text says you want a new data set. Please clarify.

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Flexluthorella — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:04:12 GMT

The question is "using dataset Nines, create a new temporary dataset which contains revised variables for all of the numeric variables such that the value of the revised variables is 3 times the original value except when the value is 999- code these as missing. Do this using 2 arrays and do not overwrite the data in the original variables."

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Flexluthorella — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:04:55 GMT

its a new variable in a new temporary dataset.

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

PaigeMiller — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:12:11 GMT

if oldvar(i) then 999 then call missing (newvar{i});

If you clean up the syntax here, it seems that your code will do exactly what you want.

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Flexluthorella — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:14:17 GMT

This is not the correct answer; I keep getting error

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Flexluthorella — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:22:41 GMT

Here is the original dataset

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:22:45 GMT

Your code is incomplete. Which dataset you create happens in the DATA statement, and the SET statement determines which dataset is read.

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Flexluthorella — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:23:02 GMT

here is the code and error i have

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

PaigeMiller — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:41:39 GMT

The syntax of

array newvar{*} _temporary_;

is not correct. You have to actually name the variables that will appear in the array newvar;

In the future, please include code and log directly in the message (as text, not as a screen capture) by copying the text and then pasting it into the window that appears when you click on the {i} icon (for the log) or the window that appears when you click on the running man icon (for code). Providing code and log as an attachment is not preferred.

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:37:21 GMT

Start by learning the very basics of data step programming.

do i = 1 - 5;

is incorrect, as you define a starting value of -4, and no end value.

Iterative do loops need the keyword "to", like

do i = 1 to 5;

You also define array newvar, but use newvars further down the code. That's the cause for the "undefined array reference" error.

But, finally:

Do NOT post code, logs or data in pictures. NEVER EVER.

Copy/paste code into a window opened with the "little running man", and logs and textual data into a window opened with the {i} button.

Assuming that we have nothing better to do than typing data tediously from a picture is not very polite.

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Flexluthorella — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:48:24 GMT

I am so sorry I am very new at this and I feel as though the output I need does not make sense. I am still not getting the correct output.

It still include the character variables and the newvar do not show up. How do I add the multiplier of three to the numeric variables in the new dataset bythree?

libname learn "XXX";
data by three:
set learn.Nines;
array oldvar(8)  x y z a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
array newvar(8) x3 y3 z3 a13 a23 a33 a43 a53; 
do i = 1 to 8;
if oldvar{i} = 999 the call missing (newvar{i});
end;
drop i;
run;

of three to the new variables?

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

PaigeMiller — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:55:10 GMT

@Flexluthorella wrote:

It still include the character variables and the newvar do not show up. How do I add the multiplier of three to the numeric variables in the new dataset bythree?
libname learn "XXX";
data by three:
set learn.Nines;
array oldvar(8)  x y z a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
array newvar(8) x3 y3 z3 a13 a23 a33 a43 a53; 
do i = 1 to 8;
if oldvar{i} = 999 the call missing (newvar{i});
end;
drop i;
run; 
of three to the new variables?

Explain this. What multiplier of three? Where do you want to multiply by three? Give an example. There is no such thing in your code.

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Flexluthorella — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:58:02 GMT

The values in the variables x y z a1 a2 a3 a4 a5. They are simple numbers ranging from 2-999. Example the 1st value in variable X is 4 therefore X3 in newvar should be 12.

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

PaigeMiller — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 14:16:59 GMT

libname learn "XXX";
data by_three;
set learn.Nines;
array oldvar(8)  x y z a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
array newvar(8) x3 y3 z3 a13 a23 a33 a43 a53; 
do i = 1 to 8;
newvar{i}=3*oldvar{i};
end;
drop i;
run;

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Tom — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 14:10:58 GMT

Your code looks very close.

Fix your DATA statement. Right now you are creating two datasets, one named BY and one named THREE, that both have the same data.

You forgot to assign any values to your new variables.

Can you figure out what statement you would need to set the new variable to three times the old variable? And where you would put that code?

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 14:13:10 GMT

@Flexluthorella wrote:

I am so sorry I am very new at this and I feel as though the output I need does not make sense. I am still not getting the correct output.

It still include the character variables and the newvar do not show up. How do I add the multiplier of three to the numeric variables in the new dataset bythree?
libname learn "XXX";
data by three:
set learn.Nines;
array oldvar(8)  x y z a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
array newvar(8) x3 y3 z3 a13 a23 a33 a43 a53; 
do i = 1 to 8;
if oldvar{i} = 999 the call missing (newvar{i});
end;
drop i;
run; 
of three to the new variables?

You don't get any output because of several syntax errors:

data by three:

A statement needs to be terminated with a semicolon, not a colon. And do you really want to create two new datasets?

if oldvar{i} = 999 the call missing (newvar{i});

should be

if oldvar{i} = 999 then call missing (newvar{i});

See this code:

data have;
input x y z a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
datalines;
1 2 3 4 999 6 7 8
;

data by_three;
set have;
array oldvar(8)  x y z a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
array newvar(8) x3 y3 z3 a13 a23 a33 a43 a53; 
do i = 1 to 8;
  if oldvar{i} ne 999 then newvar{i} = 1;
end;
drop i;
run;

Since all new variables are set to missing when an iteration of the data step starts, call missing() will not have any visible effect, so I did the opposite to show how the code works. Read the log, and you'll see that it's perfectly clean.

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

KachiM — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 14:56:54 GMT

@Flexluthorella

Does this help you?

data have;
input x y z a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
datalines;
1 2 3 4 999 6 7 8
1 3 2 3 9   1 2 3
4 5 1 7 1   2 1 2
;
run;

data want;
set have;
array oldvar  x y z a1-a5;
array newvar  nx ny nz na1-na5;
do i = 1 to dim(oldvar);
   if oldvar[i] = 999 then newvar[i] = .;
   else newvar[i] = oldvar[i] * 3;
end;
drop i;
run;

The output:

Re: How do you create a new variable with Arrays that does not overwrite when...

tomrvincent — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:49:38 GMT

I doubt you'll ever get a positive response with a post like that. If you're new to SAS, why are you working with arrays? Keep it simple, explain what you're trying to accomplish and remain moderately humble.