ERROR: WHERE clause operator requires compatible variables.

[bbibbi_yc]

Hello, I use the WHERE to set my data, but the log shows the error like below:

And I'm wondering what's goes wrong.

Thank you. 

proc import datafile='/home/u63518324/sasuser.v94/Epi_test.xls'
out=homework_per
dbms=xls;
getnames=yes;
run;

data homework_1;set homework_per;
BMI=weight/(height*height)*10000;
if BMI<24 then BMI_group=1;
else if BMI>=24 then BMI_group=2;
run;

proc format;
value BMI_group 1='normal weight' 2='overweight';
run;

data homework_1;set homework_1;
format BMI_group BMI_group.;
run;

proc print data=homework_1 AND BMI_group='overweight';
where sex='F';
run;

proc print data=homework_1;
where BMI_group='overweight';
run;

ERROR: WHERE clause operator requires compatible variables.

[andreas_lds]

Assuming that "and BMI_group ..." belongs to the where statement.

proc print data=homework_1;
where sex='F' AND BMI_group='overweight';
run;

Attaching a format to a variable does not change the type of the variable, only the way its values are displayed changes. So BMI_group is still numeric and the comparison with "overweight" causes the error.

[bbibbi_yc]

I see. Thank you so much!!!!

[Patrick · Accepted solution]

You need to amend your data step so variable bmi_group gets populated.

data homework_2;
  set homework_1;
  bmi_group=put(bmi,bmi_group.);
run;

For just using a formatted value in a where clause you could also directly write code like:

proc print data=homework_1;
  where put(bmi,BMI_group.)='overweight';
run;

And if you then want to print the bmi values with a format applied you could code like:

proc print data=homework_1;
  where put(bmi,BMI_group.)='overweight';
  format bmi bmi_group.;
run;

[bbibbi_yc]

I follow your steps and solve the problem!

Thank you so much!!!!!!