topic Re: In what circumstances can initial-value needs to be (or can be) as a character value? in SAS Programming

In what circumstances can initial-value needs to be (or can be) as a character value?

Nietzsche — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 20:43:49 GMT

Hi, I am reading page 148 of the official specialist prep guide, in it, it states that initial value can be character in the RETAIN statement, which is used for initialising a sum variable. But how can a character value be added together? How can A + A or A+1?

What circumstances can initial value be a character variable/value?

thanks

Re: In what circumstances can initial-value needs to be (or can be) as a character value?

PaigeMiller — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 20:53:22 GMT

I am reading page 148 of the official specialist prep guide, in it, it states that initial value can be character in the RETAIN statement, which is used for initialising a sum variable.

RETAIN does not have to be used for a sum variable. It can be used for many other purposes, such as retaining a character value from a previous observation. So, initialising a character variable with a character value makes perfect sense.

Re: In what circumstances can initial-value needs to be (or can be) as a character value?

Nietzsche — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 21:10:40 GMT

oh okay, thanks.