How to refer a long list of variables instead of typing individually?

[huhuhu]

Dear all,

I have many categories of variables and each of category include a lot of variables. I would like to create a statement that for each individual observation,  if there is at least one variable has non missing value, then we can use this observation. Now I only know the statement like below:

if apple ne . or banana ne . or  grape ne. then flag='yes'; 

However, since I have tons of variables in each category, it will be very time consuming to type them individually. I'm wondering if there is an efficient way to do it.

I appreciate any thoughts and recommendations.

Thank you!

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

Use the N function to count the number of non missing values.

If n(of var1-var3) >=1 then do;

[huhuhu]

Thank you for your recommendation! but they are not consecutive variables. They locate at random place in a large dataset.

[Astounding]

If the variables you are concerned about are all numeric, you could use:

if n(of _numeric_) > 0 then do;

[Reeza]

If you don't have a naming convention or they're not placed sequentially then unfortunately you're stuck listing them all out. 

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@huhuhu wrote:

Thank you for your recommendation! but they are not consecutive variables. They locate at random place in a large dataset.

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[Tom]

It would help if you named your variables from the beginning to account for this need.

if n(of fruit_:) > 0 then flag='yes';