Where online can i see an explaination of how multiple IF's are handled like below.
Thanks!
data base(keep = proposal_nbr tar_file tar_dt the_dt); merge base(in=ok1) prop_list(in=ok2); by proposal_nbr; if ok1; if the_dt eq . then the_dt=tar_dt; if the_dt lt date()-21;
The first one "gates" if an output is created, so if it misses, the last IF gets a chance to create an output?
Is that the proper way to look at this?
Also, does it matter that the line "the_dt=tar_dt" isn't higher up in the code?? Does it only take-effect from that point downward?
Yes.
You just need to read about IF Statement, Subsetting, and understand what it is equivalent to.
The statement IF OK1; is a subsetting if, meaning that output will meet that requirement.
The Order of most statements in the code is very important. In your example the effect of
if the_dt eq . then the_dt=tar_dt;
would not matter as long as it appears between the MERGE (which apparently brings in the values for the variable the_dt) and
the if the_dt lt date()-21; where the newly assigned value would be used.
so what would this do?
data out;
set in;
if a;
if b;
if c;
Is this the same as "if a and b and c" then output?
Yes.
You just need to read about IF Statement, Subsetting, and understand what it is equivalent to.
And regarding using "subsetting if" with "Merge" statment and how that work. Check "ONE-TO-ONE MATCH-MERGE KEEPING SOME OBSERVATIONS " in this paper SAS® DATA Step Merge – A Powerful Tool
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