Is it possible to take three dummy variables and recode them into one categorical variable with 4 different categories?
Yes.
Simple example is 3 variables coded 1 for yes (the dummy value of interest).
ina a data step
data want;
set have;
If var1=1 then Cat=1;
else if var2=1 then Cat=2;
else if var3=1 the cat=3;
else Cat=4;
run;
From the above code, since we are using the same cat variable for categorizing the var1,var2,var3 data, the final output will show the cat=3. per the code everytime the if then else condition executes and if the var1,var2 and var3 values are same , the cat value will be replaced or overwritten with 1, 2 and 3. but the final output will show 3.
the above code will work only when the three variables will have different values per row.
Thanks,
jag
Is there any way to code it so the final output does not show all 3's? I would like each category to display a unique value.
You could use
cat = whichn(1, var1, var2, var3);
PG
Since you didn't provide any example of your dummy variables or data layout I had to guess. If multiples of your dummy variables are 'Yes' then you need to describe the rules for which result you want. If the dummy variables are coded 0/1 and ONLY one is set to yest the code will work as described. Incomplete descriptions=incomplete answers.
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