Merge/Combine 2 columns into 1 to replace blank cells

jos283 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:03:53 GMT

As part of a large data set, 2 of my columns contain dates that basically represent the same thing, and they both have missing data in different rows.

For example:

Column A Column B Date_Start Date_Begin Column E

1/1/15 1/1/15

1/4/15

1/6/15

1/7/15

1/9/15 1/9/15

How do I combine the Date_Start and Date_Begin columns to replace the blank cells so that I get something like this:

Date_Combine

1/1/15

1/4/15

1/6/15

1/7/15

1/9/15

I've also tried Proc Sql, Proc Format, and simply copying Date_Begin across to Data_Start (seen at the end) but it doesn't seem to be working i.e. If Missing(Date_Start) then Date_Start = Date_Begin

Any help with the coding would be appreciated!

Re: Merge/Combine 2 columns into 1 to replace blank cells

kiranv_ — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:11:55 GMT

coalesce function will do it.

proc sql;

select coalesce(Date_Start , Date_Begin) as Date_Combine

from yourtable;

quit;

topic Merge/Combine 2 columns into 1 to replace blank cells in SAS Enterprise Guide

Merge/Combine 2 columns into 1 to replace blank cells

Re: Merge/Combine 2 columns into 1 to replace blank cells