topic Re: set new variable to missing if time vaue in a character string is missing in SAS Programming

set new variable to missing if time vaue in a character string is missing

jenim514 — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:16:43 GMT

Hi!

I have a messy time date variable in a character string.

the orignal values look like this...

Inc

291900MAR07

142300APR07

03APR07

10APR07

I'm creating two separate variables (date_var time_var) from the original variable (inc) In the values with the longer string the first two numbers are actually the day, and the 3-6 is the time. Many of the values do not have a time entered. What I want to do is have the time variables set to missing if the time is missing.

So, to create the date_var I did this (and it worked fine)

data want ;
set have (keep=rescuereportid inc);
inc=compress(inc);

date_var=substr(inc,1,2)||substr(inc,max(1,length(inc)-4));
run;

How can I create a time variable with variables that are different in length (i don't want to write over values that have existing time vlaues)? Want to look like this....

Orig_Var	Date_Var	Time_Var
291900MAR07	29MAR07	1900
142300APR07	14APR07	2300
03APR07	03APR07	.
10APR07	10APR07	.

Help is appreciated!

Re: set new variable to missing if time vaue in a character string is missing

Reeza — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:24:36 GMT

Use the LENGTH function to check the length and then conditionally process the variables.

if length(var) = 10 then do;
time= <your code>;
date=<your code>;
end;
else if length(var)=9 then do;
time=.;
date=.input(.... );
end;

Re: set new variable to missing if time vaue in a character string is missing

HB — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:27:09 GMT

That exactly what I was going to suggest. Pout. Lol.

Re: set new variable to missing if time vaue in a character string is missing

Reeza — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:27:47 GMT

@HB wrote:
That exactly what I was going to suggest. Pout. Lol.

@HB yeah...I should really log off and go work 🙂

Re: set new variable to missing if time vaue in a character string is missing

jenim514 — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:33:54 GMT

@Reeza NO! don't log off and work! Then I wouldn't be able to work!! lol

Re: set new variable to missing if time vaue in a character string is missing

Reeza — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:02:43 GMT

@jenim514 aren't you in Ottawa, you only have a little bit left.

Re: set new variable to missing if time vaue in a character string is missing

jenim514 — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:51:01 GMT

@Reeza No, in San Diego... only half way through the day!