topic Re: A different "Invalid Numeric Data" issue in SAS Procedures

A different "Invalid Numeric Data" issue

SSG — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 16:51:47 GMT

The following code is part of a larger data step. I am trying to create the field undr_flg:

undr_flg=0;

if PRSN_ETHNIC_CD in (2 3 5 😎 then undr_flg=1;

if PRSN_ETHNIC_CD=6 then undr_flg=.;

I get the following error message when running this.

NOTE: Invalid numeric data, 'Underrepresented Minority flag' , at line 102 column 10

Every value for undr_flg then gets converted to missing. PRSN_ETHNIC_CD is a numeric field, so that isn't the issue. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: A different "Invalid Numeric Data" issue

Astounding — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 16:59:46 GMT

Technically, you should add commas within the IN operator:

if presn_ethnic+cd in (2, 3, 5, 😎 then undr_flg=1;

But that's not generating the message about invalid data. A later statement is causing that, probably a LABEL statement with an extra semicolon. For example, this would do it:

label abc='My label for the variable ABC';

undr_flg='Underrepresented Minority flag';

When the LABEL statement labels multiple variables, it should be one long statement with just a single semicolon at the end. In the example above, the semicolon at the end of the first line should be removed. Leaving it in causes the message about invalid numeric data ... the last line is no longer part of the LABEL statement but is attempting to assign the value "Underrepresented Minority flag" to an existing variable.

Good luck.

Re: A different "Invalid Numeric Data" issue

SSG — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 17:06:20 GMT

That fixed it. Thanks much.

P.S.

I actually removed the commas, thinking that would help for some reason. It didn't.

Re: A different "Invalid Numeric Data" issue

data_null__ — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 17:10:17 GMT

Astounding wrote:

Technically, you should add commas within the IN operator:

if presn_ethnic+cd in (2, 3, 5, 8) then undr_flg=1;

I disagree SAS is a mostly blank delimited language and there is no reason to use commas where thay are not required.

Re: A different "Invalid Numeric Data" issue

Astounding — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 17:14:16 GMT

OK, I'll agree that it's a matter of style ... but it does give me some ideas for a neat little problem. Something along the lines of:

if var in (1,235 6,789 10,246) then do;