topic Error: Expecting an arithmetic operator & Syntax error, statement will be ignored in SAS Procedures

Error: Expecting an arithmetic operator & Syntax error, statement will be ignored

Phoebelee — Mon, 01 May 2017 23:17:36 GMT

I keep getting error warning like this:

1729 DATA PROJECT.MERGE_ALL;
1730 merge REHABILITATION4(in=Phoebe) DISCHARGE5(in=Fredo) EMERGENCY5(in=lego) ;
1731 by COUNTY_Name;
1732 drop county;
1733 if Phoebe Fredo lego;
-----
388
76
ERROR 388-185: Expecting an arithmetic operator.

ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

Can someone help to look what wrong with the code?

Thanks a lot !!!

here is my code:

DATA PROJECT.MERGE_ALL;
merge REHABILITATION4(in=Phoebe) DISCHARGE5(in=Fredo) EMERGENCY5(in=lego) ;
by COUNTY_Name;
drop county;
if Phoebe Fredo lego;
Format COUNTY_Name $24.;
run;
proc print data=merge_all;
run;
proc contents data= MERGE_ALL;
run;

Re: Error: Expecting an arithmetic operator & Syntax error, statement will be ignored

Tom — Mon, 01 May 2017 23:19:57 GMT

What did you intend by this statement?

if Phoebe Fredo lego;

Re: Error: Expecting an arithmetic operator & Syntax error, statement will be ignored

ballardw — Mon, 01 May 2017 23:24:34 GMT

When a variable is used in an IF SAS either expects a comparison such as =, <, >, ge or similar if there is a second variable mentioned.

Phoebe, Fredo and Lego are currently numeric variables with values of 0 or 1. Depending on what you are attempting then the statement should be

If Phoebe =1 AND Fredo=1 and Lego=1; if you want records with all three sets contributing.

This can be shortened to :

If Phoebe And Fredo And Lego; because SAS will treat non-0 and non-missing values as "True" in a comparison.