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Calcite | Level 5 DSW
Calcite | Level 5

Suppose that I had a data set that contained a list of names that contained additional columns that group names based on name type (first, last, or middle) and length (short or long):

 

IDNameTypeLengthName
1FirstShortJon
2FirstLongAlexander
3MiddleShortTodd
4MiddleLongWilliam
5LastShortSmith
6LastLong

Stephanopoulos

 

How can I create all unique combinations of names from each of the groups by selecting only 1 first name that is either short or long, 1 middle name that is either short or long, and 1 last name that is either short or long?  For example:

 

JonToddSmith
JonWilliamSmith
JonToddStephanopoulos
JonWilliamStephanopoulos
AlexanderToddSmith
AlexanderWilliamSmith
AlexanderToddStephanopoulos
AlexanderWilliam

Stephanopoulos

 

I thought that proc plan would work but I can't figure out how to do it.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1 REPLY 1
ballardw
Super User

Here's one way:

data have;
   informat id best4. NameType $6. Length $5. Name $25.;
   input ID NameType Length Name   ;
datalines;
1 First Short Jon 
2 First Long Alexander 
3 Middle Short Todd 
4 Middle Long William 
5 Last Short Smith 
6 Last Long Stephanopoulos
;
run;


proc sql;
   create table FirstAndMid as
   select a.name as firstName, b.name as Middlename,c.name as Lastname
   from
      (select name from have 
         where Nametype='First') as a,
      (select name from have 
         where Nametype='Middle') as b,
      (select name from have 
         where Nametype='Last') as c
   ;
quit;

   

Note that I basically ignore the length as you didn't have any duplicate names with different lengths within a type.

 

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