Create a variable out of multiple with smallest value

[Melk]

I have 5 variables: year_a, year_b, year_c, year_d, year_e

For most of the observations, all but 1 are missing, but some have multiple years reported. I want to create a new variable year, that has the smallest year reported for years a-e. If anyone can walk me through the steps on how to do this (I assume this is an array, but I am not good with arrays yet) I would appreciate it.

year_a   year_b   year_c    year_d   year_e

    .            .            1990        .             .

1979      1985           .            .             .

Ask your question

year

1990

1979

[PaigeMiller]

data want;
    set have;
    min_year=min(year_a,year_b,year_c,year_d,year_e);
run;

[r_behata]

Data have;
Input year_a   year_b   year_c    year_d   year_e;
cards;
. . 1990 . .
1979 1985 . . .
run;

data want;
	set have;
	array yr year_:;

	year=min(of yr(*));

	keep year;
run;

[PaigeMiller]

@r_behata why not

data want;
	set have;
	year=min(of year_:);
	keep year;
run;

I don't see the ARRAY adding any benefit here.

Also, I don't usually advise users to use the year_: syntax because I never know what other variables are in HAVE that begin with year_. Naturally, when you are programming your own code and you know the data sets, you will know that year_: refers only to the variables of interest (or not).

[novinosrin]

Feeling bored, so tolerate me

Data have;
Input year_a   year_b   year_c    year_d   year_e;
cards;
. . 1990 . .
1979 1985 . . .
run;



data want;
set have;
min_year=smallest(1,of year_:);
run;