Hello all,
I have a SAS data set has a variable names 'string' its value looks like: "a1|a2|a3|a4", "a1|a2", "a1", "a1|a2|a3" (some obs has less '|' and some has more "|") ;
I want to create new variables x1=a1,x2=a2,x3=a3........ but it does not work,
please help.
Thanks!
Here is my code:
data have;
string= "a1|a2|a3|a4"; output;
string= "a1|a2"; output;
string= "a1|a2|a3"; output;
run;
data want;
length x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 $200 ;
set have;
do i=1 to countw(string,"|")
;
/*call symput('x'||left(_i_), scan(string,i,"|"));*/
x%trim(%left(i))=scan(string,i,"|");
end;
run;
You're picturing that macro language can work on DATA step variables, but that's not really the case. For example, try:
%let x = %left(i);
%put *&x*;
You'll see that %LEFT is left-hand justifying the character "i", and has nothing to do with the value of a DATA step variable.
Try setting up an array:
array x {5} $200;
Then inside the DO loop you can use:
x{i} = scan(string, i, "|");
Hello,
One solution:
data want;
length x1 x2 x3 x4 x5 $200 ;
set have;
array x{*} x1 x2 x3 x4 x5;
do i=1 to dim(x) while (missing(scan(string,i,"|"))=0);
x{i}=scan(string,i,"|");
end;
run;
You're in a data step, don't use macro functions.
Create an array to hold your new variables.
Use the scan function to populate the variables.
You already have some good answers, below example has been presented many time by @data_null__:
data want;
infile cards dsd truncover dlm='|';
if _n_=1 then
input @@;
set have;
_infile_=string;
length x1-x5 $200;
input @1 x1-x5 @@;
cards;
neccesary evil
;
run;
Registration is open! SAS is returning to Vegas for an AI and analytics experience like no other! Whether you're an executive, manager, end user or SAS partner, SAS Innovate is designed for everyone on your team. Register for just $495 by 12/31/2023.
If you are interested in speaking, there is still time to submit a session idea. More details are posted on the website.
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.