How can I compare two columns to get which one is first alphabetically? I want to put which is first in a 3rd column.
Example:
Column1 = Kelly
Column2 = Katie
Column3 would be Katie because it is first alphabetically.
dataset = Rentals
Case of letters is an issue as in this example:
data work.example;
informat column1 column2 $10.;
input column1 column2;
if column1 < column2 then column3 = column1;
else column3 = column2;
datalines;
Kelly Katie
kelly Katie
Kelly katie
kelly katie
;
run;
If case should not be considered then you can use either UPCASE(column1) and UPCASE(column2) or LOWCASE in the comparison.
Case of letters is an issue as in this example:
data work.example;
informat column1 column2 $10.;
input column1 column2;
if column1 < column2 then column3 = column1;
else column3 = column2;
datalines;
Kelly Katie
kelly Katie
Kelly katie
kelly katie
;
run;
If case should not be considered then you can use either UPCASE(column1) and UPCASE(column2) or LOWCASE in the comparison.
Borrowing from ballardw's example, you can also use "><" (min) and "<>" (max). It works differently than the min() and max() functions, which only support numeric variables.
data work.example;
informat column1 column2 $10.;
input column1 column2;
min_of_col1_col2 = (column1 >< column2);
max_of_col1_col2 = (column1 <> column2);
datalines;
Kelly Katie
kelly Katie
Kelly katie
kelly katie
;
run;
SAS Innovate 2025 is scheduled for May 6-9 in Orlando, FL. Sign up to be first to learn about the agenda and registration!
Learn the difference between classical and Bayesian statistical approaches and see a few PROC examples to perform Bayesian analysis in this video.
Find more tutorials on the SAS Users YouTube channel.
Ready to level-up your skills? Choose your own adventure.