how to create a variable, modify a variable, where it contains lots of missing values,

[Bal23]

where it contains lots of missing values, say 98% of obs have missing values.

whether i use

if var1 NE . then var2 ="M";

or if var1 ne "." then var2 ="M"

it does not work, i do see lots of missing values, but just cannot create var2

any advice?

thanks.

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

Missing for character values is not "."

It would be easier to use

if not missing(var1) then var2='M';

as the Missing function will use the correct comparison for numeric or character as needed.

[Bal23]

thank you, but how to identify those missing values, I need to identy those as well, how to create a variable and give a vlue for those with missing values

[ballardw]

If missing(var1) then var2='whateveryouwantto assign';

[Reeza]

Are your variables character or numeric? Are they all the same type?

Post an example of what your data looks like and what you want as an output.

I think you want an array, assign the variables to the array and then loop through and create variables that flag if they're missing.

Also, what isyour end goal with flagging these as missing? There may be another way to get it.