using findw find a value and populate a new variable

[jenim514]

Hi!

I have a value of string variable :

AESOUT

3::4  (this is the value of variable AESOUT)

I need other variables to populate with 'Y' if contains a 3 or a 4 

data want;

set have;

if findw(aesout,'3')>0 then AESHOSP='Y';
else AESHOSP='';

if findw(aesout,'4')>0 then AESDISAB='Y';
else AESDISAB='';

...However I am getting null values in the new variables (AESHOSP and AESDISAB) where I am expecting a 'Y'.  

Help is appreciated!

[novinosrin · Accepted solution]

try index

data h;
s="3::4";
if index(s,'3')>0 then new_var='yes';
if index(s,'4')>0 then new_var1='yes';
run;

[ballardw]

There are some very good reasons to code Yes/no as numeric 1/0 values.

One is that when asking to compare if value='Y' you might have set some values to lower case y or even spelled it out 'yes' or 'Yes' depending. And then you get into a look at data to check the values.

Second you can always have a custom format to display Yes/No, Y/N, T/F, True/False, Member/Not member or any pair of values without having to change the variable coding.

Third in summary and report procedures a SUM of the variable will give you count of Yes values and Mean is a percent of Yes values. This may not sound like much but generate a table with Number of Yes and Percent Yes that match your expectations with 'Yes' valued variables.

Fourth some modeling procedures may require a numeric variable.