Count number of changes of a categorical variable over time

[triunk]

Hello: I know we have previously answered that in different versions... My challenge is how to measure changes over time when we include a string(categorical) variable. The goal is how many times a subject changes program ('pgm') over time (terms). Some of the subjects continue for three terms other stopped at two terms.

DATA example;
 input subject term pgm ~ $1.;
 datalines;
 1 1 a 
 1 2 b
 2 1 a
 2 2 b
 2 3 c
 3 1 a
 3 2 c
run;

proc transpose data=example out=trans;
by subject;
id term;
var pgm;
run;

 
I am not sure how to continue from here...to reach my goal...

Thank you

[VDD]

that posting is hard to read,  It is like a run on sentence or an old time NY stock exchange.

Could you please repost your question in a normal viewable form.

[Reeza]

Hi, I edited your question to make it legible. But it would help a lot if you showed what you want as output.

[triunk]

Thank you so much for your generous help Reeza!

[VDD]

Thank you @Reeza for the clean version.

@triunk you might find that the solution here fits your case.

https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Programming/Count-number-of-changes-in-variables-over-time/m-p/24...

[triunk]

Thank you both for clean version and quick feedback -

The example suggest does not fit my case (at least I think...) here is an output that I was envisioning...

subject   Terms    Pgmchange   Timeschange

1             2           1                     1

2             3           1                     2

3             2           1                     1

Does this make better sense of an output?

[Reeza]

Here's an example then, just count the number of times the PGM is first using FIRST/LAST.

data want;
set have;
by subject term pgm NOTSORTED; *since you can't sort the data the notsorted option will need to be used;
RETAIN pgmChange;

*set at start of each Subject;
if first.subject then pgmChange=-1;

*increment for each change;
if first.pgm then pgmChange+1;

if last.subject then output;
run;

---

@triunk wrote:

Thank you both for clean version and quick feedback -

The example suggest does not fit my case (at least I think...) here is an output that I was envisioning...

subject   Terms    Pgmchange   Timeschange

1             2           1                     1

2             3           1                     2

3             2           1                     1

Does this make better sense of an output?

---

[ballardw]

---

@triunk wrote:

Thank you both for clean version and quick feedback -

The example suggest does not fit my case (at least I think...) here is an output that I was envisioning...

subject   Terms    Pgmchange   Timeschange

1             2           1                     1

2             3           1                     2

3             2           1                     1

Does this make better sense of an output?

---

You will have to tell us what the heck pgmchange is based on.

You might also include an example of the output for subject with only one observation and maybe another one or two subjects where the pgm changes back to a previous value.

I would start with something like:

data want;
   set example;
   by subject;
   retain terms timeschange ;
   lpgm=lag(pgm);
   if first.subject then do;
      timeschange=0;
      terms=1;
   end;
   else do;
      terms+1;
      timeschange= timeschange+(lpgm ne pgm);
   end;
   if last.subject;
   drop term lpgm pgm;
run;

but without a definition of Pgmchange that's as far as I can go.

[triunk]

pgmchange is a binary variable with values yes (1) or no(0) if the subject changed program

and timeschange is how many times the subjects changed program...

I am amazed with quick response.

Please forgive me for my sloppy request. Your feedback helped me clarify. 

Thank  you all for your quick response. 

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

---

@triunk wrote:

pgmchange is a binary variable with values yes (1) or no(0) if the subject changed program

and timeschange is how many times the subjects changed program...

I am amazed with quick response.

Please forgive me for my sloppy request. Your feedback helped me clarify. 

Thank  you all for your quick response. 

---

data want;
   set example;
   by subject;
   retain terms timeschange ;
   lpgm=lag(pgm);
   if first.subject then do;
      timeschange=0;
      terms=1;
   end;
   else do;
      terms+1;
      timeschange= timeschange+(lpgm ne pgm);
   end;
   pgmchange = (timeschage>0);
   if last.subject;
   drop term lpgm pgm;
run;

[VDD]

Would proc summary solve your problem.

this summary sample is on term

proc summary data=example;
by subject;
id term;
var term;
output out=trans (drop= _TYPE_ _FREQ_ _ORGA ) sum()= mean(term)=;
run;

The SAS System

Obs subject term
1         1         2
2         2         3
3         3         2