Creating a character variable with specifications

[marianhabesland]

I am trying to make a character variable called SBPHypCat based on specifications of systolic blood pressure. So far I have this code:

data WORK.Illus;
set HypTabs.Src_Mississippi_VS;

if SBP = low - 90 then SBPHypCat = "Below Normal";
else if SBP = 90 - < 120 then SBPHypCat = "Normal";
else if SBP = 120 - < 140 then SBPHypCat = "High Normal";
else if SBP = 140 - < 160 then SBPHypCat = "Stage 1 Hypertension";
else if SBP = 160 - < 180 then SBPHypCat = "Stage 2 Hypertension";
else SBP = 180 - high then SBPHypCat = "Stage 3 Hypertension";
run;

I am getting a bunch of errors including:

ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: a name, a quoted string, a numeric constant, a datetime constant,

a missing value, INPUT, PUT.

ERROR 180-322: Statement is not valid or it is used out of proper order.

ERROR 388-185: Expecting an arithmetic operator.

ERROR 202-322: The option or parameter is not recognized and will be ignored.

Is this just the wrong format to do this kind of task in, or is there another way for me to fix this?

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

You're mixing the syntax for IF/THEN statements with the syntax for creating a format.  Here's how IF/THEN statements would look:

data Illus;

set HypTabs.Src_Mississippi_VS;

length SBPHypCat $ 22;

if SBP <= 0 then SBPHypCat='Bad Measurement';

else if SBP <= 90 then SBPHypCat = 'Below Normal';

else if SBP <= 120 then SPBHypCat = 'Normal';

else if SBP <= 140 then SBPHypCat = 'High Normal';

else if SBP <= 160 then SBPHypCat = 'Stage 1 Hypertension';

else if SBP <= 180 then SBPHypCat = 'Stage 2 Hypertension';

else SBPHypCat = 'Stage 3 Hypertension';

run;

[marianhabesland]

That makes sense. I just worked on formats, so did not release it had different syntax. Thanks!

[Reeza]

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@marianhabesland wrote:

That makes sense. I just worked on formats, so did not release it had different syntax. Thanks!

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If this is for homework, you may have been expected to use a format to do the conversion, not IF/THEN statements. 

Once you have the format it would look like:

SBPHypCat = put( SBP, sbp_format.);

[WarrenKuhfeld]

This is not the syntax for boolean expressions in IF statements.  Here are some examples.  Substitute expressions for x and y.  Notice there are no dashes or low or high.

x = y

x <= y

x < y

x > y

x >= y