How to convert Y/N data to 0/1 data?

[WillS_]

I have multiple variables in my dataset that have Y/N data but I need to convert it to 0/1 data for analysis. Does anyone know a macro or a code that would help with this conversion of the variables with Y/N data?

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

Since the existing variables are character they can't be made into numeric but new variables with the numeric values can be created.

OR if you read the data from a text file that could be read into numeric.

A custom informat is the easiest.

proc format;

invalue YN (upcase)

'Y' = 1

'N' = 0

other = .; /* this assigns any unexpected characters to missing */

run;

data want;

     set have;

     /* best to create bunch of variables and assigning values with an array*/

     array c < list name of existing variables with YN values here>;

     array New <a list of corresponding new variables here>;

     do I=1 to dim(c);

          New = input(c,YN.);

     end;

run;

If I were reading the data from a text file I would read those values after assigning YN as the informat.

[WillS_]

Thank you!