Why "else" doesn't get executed?

[asimraja]

Hi,

This is driving me crazy as, this is too simple, but I may be too tired to see what is wrong.

In the code below, I have a snippet from a data step. When "LnMonthsToFinalStepCount " is missing, then instead of "Step_indicator = 'Never Step', I keep getting 'Finished Stepping'. What am I missing?

Thank you for your help!

Code:

        length Step_Indicator $20;
        if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount >= 0 then
            Step_Indicator = 'Currently Stepping';
        else if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0 then
            Step_Indicator = 'Finished Stepping';
        else
            Step_Indicator = 'Never Step';

[novinosrin · Accepted solution]

in sas sort sequence . (missing) is smaller than 0, that's the reason

therefore when  LnMonthsToFinalStepCount  is missing the statement if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0  evaluates to true

[asimraja]

Thank you very much!

[novinosrin]

if you want else statement to execute, you would have to change the code to

Code:

        length Step_Indicator $20;
        if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount >= 0 then
            Step_Indicator = 'Currently Stepping';
        else if not missing(LnMonthsToFinalStepCount ) and  LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0 and  then 
            Step_Indicator = 'Finished Stepping';
        else 
            Step_Indicator = 'Never Step';

[ballardw]

---

@novinosrin wrote:

if you want else statement to execute, you would have to change the code to

Code:

        length Step_Indicator $20;
        if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount >= 0 then
            Step_Indicator = 'Currently Stepping';
        else if not missing(LnMonthsToFinalStepCount ) and  LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0 and  then 
            Step_Indicator = 'Finished Stepping';
        else 
            Step_Indicator = 'Never Step';

---

Shorter

if LnMonthsToFinalStepCount >= 0 then
            Step_Indicator = 'Currently Stepping';
        else if . < LnMonthsToFinalStepCount < 0 then
            Step_Indicator = 'Finished Stepping';
        else
            Step_Indicator = 'Never Step';