summarize character variables in a new variable

[loedrup_ab]

Dear anyone

Given the single choice answer in q1 (a-d) repondents get to answer q2a - q2d,(single choice, a - e) as shown in excel below. How can I summarize q2a - q2d in q3  as shown in excel below?

Hope to hear from you

sincerely Anders

q1	q2a	q2b	q2c	q2d	q3
a	e				e
a	b				b
c			a		a
b		d			d
d				c	c

[shivas · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Is this what you are looking for? or i have not understand your requirement.

data have;

infile cards dsd dlm=',';

input q1 $ q2a $ q2b $ q2c $ q2d $;

q3=COALESCEC(q2a,q2b,q2c,q2d);

cards;

a,e,,,

a,b,,,

c,,,a,

b,,d,,

d,,,,c

;

run;

Thanks,

Shiva

[loedrup_ab]

Hi Shiva

Super. The COALESCEC(q2a,q2b,q2c,q2d) did the trick

I just did (data 'have' contains the values of q1 and q2a - q2d):

data want; set have;

q3=COALESCEC(q2a,q2b,q2c,q2d);

run;

Thank you for helping out.

cheers Anders