topic Re: Lag function Error in SAS Procedures

lag function Error

Coa_SAs — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 17:35:39 GMT

Hi All,

I have attached SAS Data Set, New_Gold needs to calculate as

If _n_ then .

if _n_=2 then (Obs2-Obs1)^2

if _n_=3 then (obs3-obs2)^2

if _n_=4 then (Obs4-Obs3)^2 etc

As a first step I am using Lag function.

New_Gold=Lag(1_GoldS)

I am getting the follwing error, Please advise.

ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: !, !!, &, *, **, +, ',', -, /, <, <=, <>, =, >, ><, >=, AND, EQ, GE,
GT, IN, LE, LT, MAX, MIN, NE, NG, NL, NOTIN, OR, ^=, |, ||, ~=.

ERROR 72-185: The LAG function call has too many arguments.

Re: lag function Error

Reeza — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 17:39:45 GMT

The function is called is LAG<n> where <n> represents the amount of lag.

Your code should be:
lag1(variable_name).

Variables don't typically start with numbers, so perhaps its just a typo?

Lag function Error

Coa_SAs — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 17:41:08 GMT

Hi All,

I have data as attached. New_Gold needs to calculate as

If _n_ then .

if _n_=2 then (Obs2-Obs1)^2

if _n_=3 then (obs3-obs2)^2

if _n_=4 then (Obs4-Obs3)^2 etc

As a first step I am using Lag function.

New_Gold=Lag(1_GoldS)

I am getting the follwing error, Please advise.

ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: !, !!, &, *, **, +, ',', -, /, <, <=, <>, =, >, ><, >=, AND, EQ, GE,
GT, IN, LE, LT, MAX, MIN, NE, NG, NL, NOTIN, OR, ^=, |, ||, ~=.

ERROR 72-185: The LAG function call has too many arguments.

Re: Lag function Error

Reeza — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 18:00:52 GMT

Do you understand my comment? If not, please post your whole code and log. The code posted above isn't valid SAS syntax. As mentioned variables rarely start with numbers (1_GoldS)

Re: Lag function Error

Coa_SAs — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 18:09:57 GMT

Thanks Reeza for your quick reply, I got it.

Re: lag function Error

Astounding — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 18:12:58 GMT

Seems like you could get what you want with:

new_gold = dif(GoldS)**2;

It will generate a missing value on the first observation, but that is expected.

If you are stuck on using LAG instead of DIF:

new_gold = lag(GoldS);

if _n_=1 then new_gold=.;

else new_gold = (GoldS - new_gold)**2;

Note that SAS uses ** (not ^) to indicate raising to a power.

Good luck.

Re: Lag function Error

Reeza — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 18:14:07 GMT

Please mark the question as answered.