NA are called unknown in the dataset

[smartis]

Goodmorning everyone!

I uploaded a dataset on Sas Viya for Learners.

My problem is: the NA values are called unknown.. how can I recall them with the classic name: 'NA' so that SAS recognise and process them as NA?

Thank you so much!

Martina

[Kurt_Bremser]

I guess(!) that you actually did not upload a dataset, but a data file that was then imported into SAS and has a numeric column with 'NA' in some places. Is that correct?

[smartis]

not really, sorry, probably I didn't explain well myself: 

In the dataset I'm working on there are, in different columns, values called 'unknown', when I perform the imputation, SAS tell me that there aren't missing values, but actually there are and they are the unknowns!

So know: how can I substitute that 'unknown' into NA's??

Thanks in advance

Martina

[Kurt_Bremser]

OK, so we need to know

• the type of the source variable
• the format assigned to it
• if character, the defined length will also be good to know
• the raw content (displayed without a format)

Run a PROC CONTENTS on the dataset. If you find a format attached, run this:

data _null_;
set dataset (obs=10);
format var; /* removes any format */
put var;
run;

(replace "dataset" and "var" with your dataset and variable name, respectively)

This will write the first 10 values to the SAS log, from where you can copy/paste them here.

[Reeza]

NAs are a concept in R/Python. 

Nulls/Missing are a DB concept

SAS uses spaces/blanks for character missing and . (period) for numeric missing. 

Is this a correct interpretation of your question:

• You have a data set that you're trying to impute missing data 
• The field is character
• One of the values in the field is 'unknown' and SAS is not treating the unknown as missing
• You want to impute for the 'unknown values in the column

If this is correct, you first need to recode the unknown to missing 

data missing;
set have;

if varInterest='unknown' then call missing(varInterest);

run;

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@smartis wrote:

not really, sorry, probably I didn't explain well myself: 

In the dataset I'm working on there are, in different columns, values called 'unknown', when I perform the imputation, SAS tell me that there aren't missing values, but actually there are and they are the unknowns!

So know: how can I substitute that 'unknown' into NA's??

Thanks in advance

Martina

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[smartis]

Thank you so much and sorry for my late answer!

Martina