How to assign a number to each distinct value for one variable?

[Shayan2012]

Hi all,

I have a data set like this one:

   var1   var 2         number

     aa     x                 1

     aa     y                 1 

     aa     z                 1

     bb     t                  2

     bb     y                 2

     cc                        3

     cc                        3

     cc                        3

so, the column number is the column that I want to obtain. As you can see, it assigns a number for each of distinct values of var1.

could you please help me????

thanks a lot

[AncaTilea · Accepted solution]

Hi.

How about this?

data in;

input var1 $ var2 $;

cards;

aa x

aa y

aa z

bb t

bb y

cc .

cc .

cc .

;

proc sort data = in;by var1;

data temp; 

    set in;

    by var1;

    retain number 0;

    if first.var1 then number++ 1;retain number;

run;

I hope it helps!

Good luck.

Anca.

[Shayan2012]

Thanks a lot, Anca. Thats perfect. I was not familiar with retain .