topic Re: Delete rows/observations based on date value in SAS Programming

Delete rows/observations based on date value

pbhatt — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 16:02:03 GMT

I would like to delete the first n-obs or rows based on the date, but I am unsure how. The DATE variable is numeric and FORMAT IS YYQ6 (ex. 2013Q1).

Here is the code I have at the moment

PROC SORT DATA = HAVE;
BY DATE ;
RUN;

DATA HAVE;
SET HAVE;
IF VAR1 = 0 THEN DELETE;
IF DATE = 2013Q4 THEN DELETE;

RUN;

Re: Delete rows/observations based on date value

Reeza — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 16:35:16 GMT

DATA want;

SET HAVE;

IF VAR1 = 0 THEN DELETE;

IF put(DATE, YYQ6.) = "2013Q4" THEN DELETE;

if year(date) = 2013 and qtr(date) = 4 then delete;

RUN;

FYI - do not use this style of programming. It's harder to debug and find any issues in your programming, instead give your output data set a unique name as above otherwise you cannot trace your work between steps.

DATA HAVE;
SET HAVE;

@pbhatt wrote:

I would like to delete the first n-obs or rows based on the date, but I am unsure how. The DATE variable is numeric and FORMAT IS YYQ6 (ex. 2013Q1).

Here is the code I have at the moment

PROC SORT DATA = HAVE;
BY DATE ;
RUN;

DATA HAVE;
SET HAVE;
IF VAR1 = 0 THEN DELETE;
IF DATE = 2013Q4 THEN DELETE;

RUN;

Re: Delete rows/observations based on date value

pbhatt — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 16:43:35 GMT

Thanks so much! It worked! Also, I tried another method as well which also worked:
DATA WORK.TEST1;
SET HAVE;
IF VAR1 = 0 THEN DELETE;
IF DISCHARGE < '01OCT2013'D THEN DELETE;
RUN;

Also, thanks again Reeza for the tips. I will make sure to use better syntax so I can trace my steps/mistakes and troubleshoot.

Re: Delete rows/observations based on date value

Reeza — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 16:56:27 GMT

Your code technically works but it deletes anything prior to Q4, not just in the third quarter which is what your original code was trying to do.
Only you know which one is right, as this isn't a technical question.

You can simplify it slightly if desired as well.

DATA WORK.TEST1;
SET HAVE;
IF VAR1 = 0 or  DISCHARGE < '01OCT2013'D THEN DELETE;
RUN;