deleting variable values based on another variable value

[ilikesas]

Hi,

suppose I have the variable diff and 5 other variables (among many others) a,b,c,d,e.

Whenever the diff = '' I want also the other 5 variabels also be =''.

I did the following code:

data have;
set have;
array variables[5] 
a b c d e;
if diff = '' then
do i = 1 to 5
 variables[i]= '';
end;
drop i ;
run;

But get errors... I guess that the logic of my syntax isn't correct, although I tried to do some modifications of the code and still get errors. Could you please help me?

Thank you!

[ilikesas]

I think I got it: I should have put the if statement inside the do statament:

data have;
set have;
array variables[5]
a b c d e;
do i = 1 to 5;
if diff ='' then variables[i] = '';
end;
drop i;
run;

But if there is a better way I will be very happy to learn!!!

[Reeza]

CALL MISSING()

http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/lefunctionsref/67960/HTML/default/viewer.htm#p1iq436yh88...

This code doesn't care if diff and variables are character or numeric.

if missing(diff) then call missing(of variables(*));

[Ksharp · Accepted solution]

data have;
set have;
array variables[5] a b c d e;

if diff ='' then call missing(of variables[*]);

run;

[Astounding]

While you have some valid suggestions here, your original problem was a missing semicolon:

1 to 5 ;