Identifying the Top Three Extreme Values with the Output Statistics: "Variable PARKNAME not found":

[SAS121]

Hello,

I was completing the Challenge Practice for Lesson 5 in SAS Programming 1 called "Identifying the Top Three Extreme Values with the Output Statistics". I continue to receive an error message saying "Variable PARKNAME not found" even when I run answer code listed in the solution.

Moreover, the only time the code runs to the output data tab is when I add a data step and even so, "TotalVisitors" and "Visitors" column are blank.

My questions are:

1. Can you please explain why I am receiving "Variable PARKNAME not found" error message?

2. Can you please explain why the code is only running when I add a data step?

Thank you.

The proposed solution:

Error message when running the proposed solution

Only time the code runs is when I add a data step

[Rick_SAS]

Check to see if PARKNAME is a valid variable in the data set:

proc contents data=pg1.np_multiyr;
run;

You are using the NOPRINT option, so the PROC MEANS call does not produce any output. Perhaps that is why you think it is not running? Clearly it is running because it is giving you an error. However, it is not creating an output data set because of the error, so fix the error first.

I am surprised that you are not seeing a WARNING such as 
WARNING: The data set WORK.TOP3PARKS may be incomplete. When this step was stopped there were 0
observations and 0 variables.
Double-check the log.