topic Question on %IF not = in SAS Programming

Question on %IF not =

Smijoss — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 18:55:05 GMT

Hi All,

I am trying to execute the following code. It works fine when I change the "not =" to an "='" Sign. But I do not understand why not = is not working.

%MACRO Combine_and_Transpose(REG);

%if %eval( "&Reg." not = "ALL") %then

%let Group_vars = %STR(ACCOUNT_NAME);

%Else %let Group_vars = %STR(REGION PU9 GROUP_NAME ACCOUNT_NAME INSUTYPE);

%Mend;

%Combine_and_Transpose(&REG.);

Run;

Error Message -

ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required. The condition was:

"MAS" not = "ALL"

ERROR: %EVAL function has no expression to evaluate, or %IF statement has no condition.

ERROR: The macro COMBINE_AND_TRANSPOSE will stop executing.

Linlin — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 19:01:19 GMT

try using "ne".

Reeza — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 19:08:07 GMT

Not Equals is:

Smijoss — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 19:35:04 GMT

Thanks a lot ... i like the NE compared to ^= :smileygrin: but both shud work i believe. ..

Wish sas had used the <> symbol

Tom — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 23:12:51 GMT

SAS does use the <> operator but it is NOT the same as the NE operator.

In base SAS and IML it means take the maximum value.

So result of 0 <> -3 is 0 .

Tom — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 23:34:33 GMT

Just put the NOT outside the comparison. Also %EVAL() is not needed.

Instead of %if %eval( "&Reg." not = "ALL") %then

use %if not ( "&Reg." = "ALL") %then