Take the higher value to define a new variable

[amng]

Hi all,

I have two variables in my dataset, one for father's education (FEDUCA), and one for mother's education (MEDUCA). I would like to create a new variable for parent's education, that is defined by whichever parent's education level is higher. I tried writing this into a DATA statement, but it doesn't look like it's working - when I run a PROC FREQ it shows 217 missing. I should have data on either Mother's or Father's education for all of them, so I'm not sure why it isn't working. Any advice? Thanks!

[Kurt_Bremser]

When your code does not give you the expected result, or gives ERRORs, WARNINGs or NOTEs you do not understand, it is essential to let us see the code and the log from it. Use the </> button for logs, and the "little running man" to post the text by copy/pasting from your SAS interface.

To get the maximum of several (numeric) values, use the MAX function.

[ed_sas_member]

Hi @amng 

Could you please post some sample data, the code you used as well as the log?

Best,

[RichardDeVen · Accepted solution]

Did you try 

PARMAXEDUCA = max(FEDUCA,MEDUCA);

[amng]

thanks! this was the code I was looking for.