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mich_ard
Fluorite | Level 6

Hi guys,

 

I just got a question, need your help: letter case in SAS seems making difference, at least in the case of "if...(then)".  Look at this example:

 

data _t_;
input ID Name$ bloodtype$ Weight;
if bloodtype='a'; 
cards;
3 kelly a 120
4 brown A 200
;
run;

 

the result has only 1 line (3 kelly a 120).

 

if I change 'a' to 'A', then I get another line (4 brown A 200).

 

both didn't give me a result of all 2 lines.

 

does this mean, in some cases, letter case matters?

 

thanks,

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
Reeza
Super User

In your code case doesn't matter. 

For variable values then it does matter.

 

This means you can do the following and it won't make a difference:

 

prOC MEAns data=SAShelP.ClasS;
ruN;

But when testing strings and comparison, then a variable value of 'a' is different than 'A'

 

if var1='a' then ...;

 

is different than

 

if var1='A' then..;

 

Solution, when making string comparisons, upcase or lowcase the strings before comparison.

 

if upcase(var1)='A' then..

View solution in original post

2 REPLIES 2
Reeza
Super User

In your code case doesn't matter. 

For variable values then it does matter.

 

This means you can do the following and it won't make a difference:

 

prOC MEAns data=SAShelP.ClasS;
ruN;

But when testing strings and comparison, then a variable value of 'a' is different than 'A'

 

if var1='a' then ...;

 

is different than

 

if var1='A' then..;

 

Solution, when making string comparisons, upcase or lowcase the strings before comparison.

 

if upcase(var1)='A' then..
mich_ard
Fluorite | Level 6
thank Reeza for quick reply, your answer works. I confused code case and value case. I'm a newbie.

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