topic Re: value labels for negative observations in SAS Programming

An error in PROC FORMAT (value labels)

Emma_at_SAS — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 17:25:36 GMT

I have some variables with negative values that are assigned for the missing observations. When I assign the value labels in proc format; the first time SAS reaches a negative value faces an error. My list of variables is long with several similar negative observations (-9). Please see my code and error below. Thank you for your suggestions.

	value income
	  1 = "less than 20000"
	  2 = "20000-40000"
	  3 = "40000-60000"
	  4 = "60000-80000"
	  5 = ">80000"
	  -9 = "Don’’t know";
format income income.;

1556 +   9 = "Don’’t know"
         -
         180
ERROR 180-322: Statement is not valid or it is used out of proper order.

Re: value labels for negative observations

Tom — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 14:26:32 GMT

Most likely the error is before line 1556 and it is just at line 1556 that SAS notices something has gone wrong.

Did you my mistake include a semi-colon before that last line?

Did you use something other than a hyphen character for the minus sign? Try retyping that line, especially if you have copied the lines from a word processing program (or email).

Re: value labels for negative observations

japelin — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 14:32:27 GMT

Please provide reproducible data and programs, not excerpts.

Re: value labels for negative observations

PaigeMiller — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 14:44:06 GMT

Please show us the ENTIRE log for your PROC FORMAT, and not selected pieces.

Re: value labels for negative observations

Emma_at_SAS — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 14:53:31 GMT

Thank you Tom! Yes, I had an extra semi-colon before that last line but I could not see that until you told me. Thanks

Re: value labels for negative observations

Emma_at_SAS — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 14:54:26 GMT

Thanks @PaigeMiller @japelin @Tom for your thoughts and suggestions

Re: value labels for negative observations

ballardw — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 14:59:19 GMT

One Problem: Wrong character for single quotes:

-9 = "Don’’t know";

Compare with:

-9 = "Don''t know";

The "curly" quotes are not treated as programming quotes properly.

The statement

format income income.;

does not belong in Proc Format. Proc format would not have a variable named income to attach a format to.

You would use that format statement in a proc using a data set such as Proc Print, or in data step code to permanently associated the format income with the variable.

As mentioned by others: Show the log for the entire procedure or data step that shows that error. Copy the entire text from the Log and paste into a text box opened on the forum with the </> icon.

BTW, if you need a single quote to appear inside a value surrounded by double quotes you do not need to double them such as

	  -9 = "Don't know";

You would need the two single quotes in don't if you were only using single quotes all the time

	  -9 = 'Don''t know';

Re: value labels for negative observations

Emma_at_SAS — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:15:46 GMT

Thank you @ballardw. lots of good points!