Q about absolute value

[Jingsi]

A starter SAS user got a little confused on functions and procedures. Thanks for bearing me on this.

Suppose that I have a string of numbers of interval ratio from a survey, but here is the problem. I don't know how to sort it by absolute value. Should I create a variable to contain these absolute values in procedures step or I can have other solutions by using some functions?

[art297]

You've probably posted this in the wrong forum but you should post more info, anyhow, in order for others to know what you are seeking.  A small example of your data would help as well as an explanation of what you would ultimately like to accomplish with the data.

[Jingsi]

For example, I have some numbers gained from the individual survey such as -5 -7 3 -1 4 -6 1 ... and I want to sort them by the power of absolute values then I could chose to display the survey question items by this order.

[art297 · Accepted solution]

Is the following what you are looking to do?

data have;

  input x;

  cards;

-5

-7

3

-1

4

;

proc sql noprint;

  create table want as

    select x

      from have

        order by abs(x)

  ;

quit;

[Jingsi]

Yes. Thank you so much for helping me out.