Maximum value of a numeric variable sorted by patients

[Gothardt]

Hi,

I have a dataset sorted by patients; e.g. 2 observations/lines (of data) for patient 1, 4 lines for patient 2 and so on. I have a variable (we call it "LINES") counting the lines for each patient (1, 2, 3, 4 and so on). 

I need to create a new variable with data from the the last line for each patient, in other words the highest value of the variable "LINES" (sorted by patients).

How do I create a syntax with "highest value" (it should bed sorted by patients already) of a variable?

/Mette

[Loko]

Hello,

Instead of describing in words your situation it will be useful to post an example of your data.

It is easier to look at data you have - data you want than reading a description.

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

proc sort data=have;
by patient lines;
run;

data want;
set have;
by patient;
if last.patient;
run;

[Gothardt]

Thanks a lot KurtBremser. It was exactly the commando I needed. 🙂