question about array with variables that aren't listed next to each other

[lmyers2]

Hello,

I have an array but the data is set up such that the array variables are separated by a binary variable. Does this matter to form the below variable called paymentsum or will SAS not recognize the array without the 3 variables lined up?  When I do this, I don't always get the right answer so am wondering...

Thanks

Laura

array pay [3] paymentsum1-paymentsum3;
   do p=1 to 3;
     paymentsum=pay[p];
      output; 
   end; drop p;
run;

[novinosrin]

Hi @lmyers2   In a prod environment, the best bet is to list down names ones. Yes, that means typing each name in the array one by one.  A one time effort. But in any case, it would help if you could post a representative sample of what you have for pointed answers. Thank you!

[Tom · Accepted solution]

Your code is fine and the position of the variables in the data vector will not impact it.

When using a single hyphen to make a variable list the names must have the same base and numeric suffix.  So 

paymentsum1-paymentsum3

is a shortcut for this list:

paymentsum1 paymentsum2 paymentsum3

When you use a double hyphen then to list is composed of the variables based on their order.  So if your dataset had these 6 variables in this exact order:

paymentsum1 flag1 paymentsum2 flag2 paymentsum3 flag3

And you used a positional variable list like:

paymentsum1 -- paymentsum3

then that would mean these five variables:

paymentsum1 flag1 paymentsum2 flag2 paymentsum3