topic Re: Min Function Error in SAS Procedures

Min Function Error

vomer — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:52:57 GMT

Hi there,

I keep getting an error for the following code -> Function MIN requires a numeric expression as argument 1.

Code:

proc sql;

create table TEST as

select ID,

min(min(FIRST_Date, information_date)) as First_V2,

max(LAST_Date)as Last_V2

from base

group by ID;

quit;

Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong?

Re: Min Function Error

art297 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:08:37 GMT

Was there more to the error message, specifically, something like one of the variables wasn't found in the table?

Re: Min Function Error

vomer — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:17:29 GMT

Hi Art, just one more line after that message :

ERROR: The following columns were not found in the contributing tables: First_V2.

but I don't get this line as this is the variable I am creating using the min statement?

Re: Min Function Error

art297 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:34:26 GMT

I would look at the log more closely. I would guess that it would be stipulating either first_date, last_date, or information_date. One of those appears to not exist in your data. If you do a proc contents on the input data do all three show up?

Re: Min Function Error

Doc_Duke — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:37:31 GMT

Vomer,

Your error is in the syntax for the summary function min. You have used the syntax for the MIN function from the DATA step instead of the summary function syntax required by PROC SQL.

The summary function MIN has one argument, not two. Review the documentation in the PROC SQL manual. You got it right for the MAX summary function, but I can't tell what you are trying to do in the expression that starts "min(min(" .

Doc Muhlbaier

Duke

Re: Min Function Error

vomer — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:43:54 GMT

all those data set exist guys. I am trying to get the cumulative min of the 2 variables : FIRST_Date, information_date

If I just do min (FIRST_Date, information_date) then it does not give me that which is why I tried the min (min() approach... but it is not working

Re: Min Function Error

Tom — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:59:59 GMT

It is telling you the FIRST_DATE is a character variable.