topic Re: Take the higher value to define a new variable in SAS Programming

Take the higher value to define a new variable

amng — Sat, 16 May 2020 18:55:35 GMT

Hi all,

I have two variables in my dataset, one for father's education (FEDUCA), and one for mother's education (MEDUCA). I would like to create a new variable for parent's education, that is defined by whichever parent's education level is higher. I tried writing this into a DATA statement, but it doesn't look like it's working - when I run a PROC FREQ it shows 217 missing. I should have data on either Mother's or Father's education for all of them, so I'm not sure why it isn't working. Any advice? Thanks!

Re: Take the higher value to define a new variable

Kurt_Bremser — Sat, 16 May 2020 19:01:31 GMT

When your code does not give you the expected result, or gives ERRORs, WARNINGs or NOTEs you do not understand, it is essential to let us see the code and the log from it. Use the </> button for logs, and the "little running man" to post the text by copy/pasting from your SAS interface.

To get the maximum of several (numeric) values, use the MAX function.

Re: Take the higher value to define a new variable

ed_sas_member — Sun, 17 May 2020 09:51:46 GMT

Hi @amng

Could you please post some sample data, the code you used as well as the log?

Best,

Re: Take the higher value to define a new variable

RichardDeVen — Sun, 17 May 2020 20:45:22 GMT

Did you try

PARMAXEDUCA = max(FEDUCA,MEDUCA);

Re: Take the higher value to define a new variable

amng — Sun, 17 May 2020 21:15:16 GMT

thanks! this was the code I was looking for.