topic substr in SAS Programming

substr

ybz12003 — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 23:55:55 GMT

hello: why the following doesn't work?

data have;

input N1 best12.3;

cards;

542.

742.268

524.

742.39

;

run;

data want;

set have;

if N1='742' then substr(((put(N1,7.)), 1, 3) = '920';

run;

180 data want;

181 set have;

182 if N1='742' then substr(((put(N1,7.)), 1, 3) = '920';

356

ERROR 79-322: Expecting a ).

NOTE 356-185: The SUBSTR pseudo-variable function does not allow character constants, expressions, or

numeric constants for the first argument.

183 run;

Re: substr

Reeza — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:08:47 GMT

You have 4 open parentheses '(', and 3 closing parentheses ')' (like an earlier question). When you see that error, count the number of open/close parentheses. There are also keyboard shortcuts to jump to the matching closing/opening parentheses, but the error is telling you what's wrong, and exactly where.

SUBSTR can be used in LEFT operation to replace text but I suspect that's not what you're trying to do. I don't know what you're trying to do though.

if N1='742' then substr((put(N1,7.), 1, 3) = '920';

Re: substr

ybz12003 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:18:27 GMT

Try to change 742 to 920

Re: substr

ybz12003 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:21:59 GMT

I still get the same error message even though I use if N1='742' then substr((put(N1,7.), 1, 3) = '920';

Re: substr

Reeza — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:25:18 GMT

@ybz12003 wrote:

Try to change 742 to 920

Then why are you using SUBSTR in your THEN?

Your condition will only be met if the number is exactly 742.

I think your logic is backwards in your IF statement. I suggest literally deleting this one and trying to write your IF from scratch.

Re: substr

art297 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:30:56 GMT

Is this what you are trying to do?:

data have;
  input N1 best12.3;
  cards;
542.
742.268
524.
742.39
;
run;

data want;
  set have;
  if int(N1) eq 742 then n1 = 920;
run;

Art, CEO, AnalystFinder.com

Re: substr

Reeza — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:31:14 GMT

I think you want this:

if int(n1)=742 then n1= n1-int(n1) + 920;

You can do the character conversion.

Re: substr

Reeza — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:31:44 GMT

@art297 It's 20 questions time, and I think I win 😉

Re: substr

art297 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:33:01 GMT

I beat you by 16 seconds! 🙂

Re: substr

Reeza — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:33:55 GMT

@art297 wrote:

I beat you by 16 seconds! 🙂

Yeah, but your missing the decimal portion, and I think that's what he was trying to do, replace the integer portion. Mind you, it's still a guess....

Re: substr

ybz12003 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:35:21 GMT

No, I would like the final data is like

data have;

input N1 best12.3;

cards;

542.

920.268

524.

920.39

;

run;

Re: substr

art297 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:36:49 GMT

Then I agree with @Reeza's most recent suggestion.

@Reeza: You win!

Re: substr

ybz12003 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 00:57:24 GMT

I have other similar rows need to changed, something like 789.456 to 234.456. Is there a way no need to be calculated?

Re: substr

Reeza — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 01:02:03 GMT

@ybz12003 wrote:

I have other similar rows need to changed, something like 789.456 to 234.456. Is there a way no need to be calculated?

Probably, but you'd have to tell us more. I'm tired of playing 20 questions tonight.

Re: substr

Astounding — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 01:56:52 GMT

I'll go with a slightly different variation:

if int(n1)=742 then n1 = n1 + 178;

That preserves the decimal fraction so increases from (for example) 742.123 to (for example) 920.123

SUBSTR only applies to character strings. So if by chance N1 were actually a character variable, you could use:

if n1 =: '742.' then substr(n1, 1, 3) = '920';

Re: substr

ybz12003 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 12:05:47 GMT

I think substr could be use both numeric and charteric variables. But I have used 'PUT' to change first.

Re: substr

jdwaterman91 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 13:30:43 GMT

The "str" portion of "substr" implies that you are working with a string, or character variables.

Yes you can convert your numeric variable to a character variable by using the Put function or by creating a new character variable equal to your numeric variable, but in the end the substr function is still evaluating a character string.

It is probably in your best interest to use one of the alternative methods provided here on the thread however.

They are a lot simpler.

Re: substr

ybz12003 — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 14:35:19 GMT

Thanks for taking time to explaining to me.