Data Step - String Literal and numeric IN() list

[JBerry]

I have a variable which has possible values of 1Y 2Y 3Y 4Y 5Y U <missing>

I'm creating a new variable in a data step, like this:

data want;

set have;

if var1 In('3Y','4Y','5Y') then newvar=1; else if var1=. THEN newvar=.; ELSE newvar=0;

run;

My problem is that the newvar becomes missing when in fact the original value was 1Y or 2Y.  But the newvar seems to actually be correct in the instance of it being in the IN() list.

I get no errors, but I get a warning:

Limit set by ERRORS=option reached. Further errors of this type will not be printed

(makes no sense, because I'm not getting errors)

I get a note for just about every row -

Invalid numeric data, VAR1='1Y', at line xxxx column yyyy

So - what in the world am I doing wrong that allows this to partially work? It works in the first list but apparently on the ELSE I am getting this weird note.

[stat_sas · Accepted solution]

Try this.

data want;

set have;

if var1 In('3Y','4Y','5Y') then newvar=1;

else if var1=' ' THEN newvar=.;

ELSE newvar=0;

run;

[JBerry]

that worked! Thanks