topic Re: Testing for missing character not working in SAS Programming

Testing for missing character not working

asimraja — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 18:56:38 GMT

Hi,

By applying a character format, I am creating a character based field. One of the values in the newly created character field is ' ' (single space between quotes). However, when I try to test for this value in an "if condition", nothing seems to work. I have tried applying compress function, missing function. The code snippet is below.

Can you please advise me how can I check if the value is ' '?

Many thanks in advance!

Asim

Character Format

------------------------

proc format library = mapbook;
   value $FG_Format
       'AMBAC' = 'AMBAC'
       'MBIA' = 'NPFG (MBIA subsidiary)'
       'FGIC-MBIA' = 'NPFG (MBIA subsidiary)'
       'FGIC'   = 'NPFG (MBIA subsidiary)'
       'XL Capital' = 'Syncora (formerly XL Capital)'
       'FSA' = 'Assured Guarantee Municipal (formerly FSA)'
       'HUD Cap Funds - AGM' = 'Assured Guarantee Municipal (formerly FSA)'
       other =' ';
run;

Creation of Character Field by applying the Character format

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

data merged6;
...

length FG_3rd_Party $50;

...

FG_3rd_Party = Recourse_Group;
format FG_3rd_Party $FG_Format.;

run;

Test for missing Value in the Character Field

-------------------------------------------------------------

if FG_3rd_Party in (' ') then
put FG_3rd_Party;

Re: Testing for missing character not working

PaigeMiller — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 18:59:55 GMT

The code you have doesn't check the formatted value of the variable for a space, it checks the actual unformatted value of the variable for a space.

If you want to test to see if the space is in the formatted value, you can use something like:

b=find(put(FG_3rd_Party,$FG_Format.),' ');

Re: Testing for missing character not working

JoshB — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 19:03:32 GMT

While you "see" the formatted value, you haven't actually changed the variable in the dataset. You'll need to use something like

FG_3rd_Party = put(Recourse_Group,$FG_Format.);

You'll see/be able to test for missing values at that point.

Re: Testing for missing character not working

asimraja — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 21:06:13 GMT

Paige,

This was very helpful. Thank you very much.

Asim