topic Re: Labels in SAS Programming

Labels - Recoding variables

sconn — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 06:01:40 GMT

I know you can change the lables for variables but how do I change record values?

For example, I have a variable named state and then the abbreviations for 50 states, how can I change and label them to the full name?

Ex: CA = California

Re: Labels

Jagadishkatam — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 03:24:16 GMT

There are different approaches to change the variable values, either you could try with if then else condition or simply using the format

example1: if then else

Data want;
set have;
if var='CA' then var1='California';
else if var='TX' then var1='Texas';
run;

example 2: with format, we need to create the format first and to the same variable we could apply that format with format statement.

proc format;
value $states
'CA'='California'
'TX'='Texas';
run;

data want;
set have;
format var $states.;
run;

Re: Labels

sconn — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 03:45:15 GMT

thanks Jag,

I did this and no errors came up but it did not seem to change in the tables or dataset. Thank you for your help!

Re: Labels

Jagadishkatam — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 03:59:01 GMT

Could you please post your code or screenshot of the code.

Re: Labels

sconn — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 04:04:41 GMT

proc format;
value $states
'MA'='Massachusetts'
'CT'='Connecticut'
'NH'='New Hampshire'
'VT'='Vermont'
'ME'='Maine'
'RI'='Rhode Island';
run;

data Final;
set Final3;
format var $states.;
run;

Re: Labels

Jagadishkatam — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 05:11:55 GMT

what is the variable in final3 dataset which has the values as MA,CT,NH. you have to mention that variable name in the format statement replacing the 'var' in data step.

Re: Labels

Reeza — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 05:47:30 GMT

@sconn Your code appears correct but note that a format changes how a variable is displayed but not the underlying value.

So, if it's not working, your starting point isn't necessarily what you think, IE CA isn't CA but something else.

Look at a proc contents of your dataset before and after you apply the format and try the IF version.

Post the proc contents if you need help debugging.

Re: Labels - Recoding variables

Ksharp — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 02:35:58 GMT

Check STNAME(). 


state=stname('NC');
put state; NORTH CAROLINA
state=stnamel('NC');
put state; North Carolina