Creating variables

[gros0265]

I'm using SAS version 9.4

I have very limited experience using SAS so there might be a really easy answer here, but bear with me.

I have a dataset with 1431 observations and 78 variables. In question are 15 variables with responses of 1, 2, 3, or 9. I would like to create a new variable called MDR that meets the following criteria:

If at least 3 of the 15 variables have a response of 2 or 3, then MDR=1.

Or if creating a new variable is what's hampering me, if there is a way to just keep those with the aforementioned criteria, that would be fine.

All I can think to do is write a seemingly endless if-then-else statement…basically doing by hand what I have to assume SAS could do on its own if I knew the correct code or procedure to use!

Can you help?

Thank you!!

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

What I call programmers trick #27 might help. The "trick" is based on when SAS does a logical comparison it returns 0 for false and 1 for true. So you can add, or sum them.

if sum(var1 in (2,3),var2 in (2,3),var3 in (2,3),var4 in (2,3),var5 in (2,3) <continue in the obvious fashion>) ge 3 then MDR=1;

OR

MDR = (sum(var1 in (2,3),var2 in (2,3),var3 in (2,3),var4 in (2,3),var5 in (2,3) <continue in the obvious fashion>) ge 3); will create a 1/0 value

[gros0265]

It worked!! Oh ballardw, thank you so much.