Hi All
I am wondering if anyone knows why I sometimes get the following note when using the "<>" ('unequal') operator in a data step procedure:
NOTE: The "<>" operator is interpreted as "MAX".
Sometimes this happens in a proc sql as well...
The "<>" operator doesn't have the same meaning everywhere
See
The "<>" operator doesn't have the same meaning everywhere
See
Ah Thank you
This basically explains it: Note: In a WHERE statement or clause, the <> operator is equivalent to NE.
In a data step, <> is the max function.
In SQL it is Not Equals.
In most languages <> means not equals, so SAS warns you otherwise. I would use a max function to avoid the message.
Things like this are one reason I use the GE LE and NE instead of >= or <= or <>, different possible interprtations and having to remember is it >= or =>.
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