in SAS, letter case really doesn't matter?

[mich_ard]

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,

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

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]

thank Reeza for quick reply, your answer works. I confused code case and value case. I'm a newbie.