Using SAS studio trying to delete observations

[ayosas]

Hello

I am working with a large dataset and trying to subset the data to only keep certain variables, I am only looking at a certain age range for the data too so I want to delete the ages that I do not need. My code for this isn't working and I'm not sure why. 

data nsch1718;
if  2=>SC_AGE_YEARS>5 then delete;
keep ACEct_1718 PrntNativity_1718 TalkAbout_1718 WrkToSolve_1718 strengths_1718 hopeful_1718 CtFamRes_1718 FamResilience_1718 
confident_1718 ACEdivorce_1718 ACEdeath_1718 ACEjail_1718 ACEdomviol_1718 ACEneighviol_1718 ACEmhealth_1718 ACEdrug_1718 ACEdiscrim_1718
sex_1718 SC_AGE_YEARS SC_HISPANIC_R SC_RACE_R raceAsia_1718 povSCHIP_1718 FPL_I1 AdultEduc_1718 FamCount_1718 RecogLetter_1718 
CountTo_1718 CONFIDENT WorkToFin_1718 HurtSad_1718 WriteName_1718;
format CONFIDENT confidentf. prntnativity_1718 prntnativityf. confident_1718 confidentf.;
set mc759.nsch1718combined_drc;
run;

[Reeza]

Because your SET statement is after all your code. It needs to be BEFORE the logic you want to execute. Otherwise you're referencing values that don't exist yet.

data nsch1718;
set mc759.nsch1718combined_drc;

if 2=>SC_AGE_YEARS>5 then delete;

keep ACEct_1718 PrntNativity_1718 TalkAbout_1718 WrkToSolve_1718 strengths_1718 hopeful_1718 CtFamRes_1718 FamResilience_1718 
confident_1718 ACEdivorce_1718 ACEdeath_1718 ACEjail_1718 ACEdomviol_1718 ACEneighviol_1718 ACEmhealth_1718 ACEdrug_1718 ACEdiscrim_1718
sex_1718 SC_AGE_YEARS SC_HISPANIC_R SC_RACE_R raceAsia_1718 povSCHIP_1718 FPL_I1 AdultEduc_1718 FamCount_1718 RecogLetter_1718 
CountTo_1718 CONFIDENT WorkToFin_1718 HurtSad_1718 WriteName_1718;

format CONFIDENT confidentf. prntnativity_1718 prntnativityf. confident_1718 confidentf.;

run;

If this doesn't work, post the log from the code.

Here is a reference that illustrates how to refer to variables and datasets in a short cut list:
https://blogs.sas.com/content/iml/2018/05/29/6-easy-ways-to-specify-a-list-of-variables-in-sas.html

---

@ayosas wrote:

Hello

I am working with a large dataset and trying to subset the data to only keep certain variables, I am only looking at a certain age range for the data too so I want to delete the ages that I do not need. My code for this isn't working and I'm not sure why. 

data nsch1718;
if  2=>SC_AGE_YEARS>5 then delete;
keep ACEct_1718 PrntNativity_1718 TalkAbout_1718 WrkToSolve_1718 strengths_1718 hopeful_1718 CtFamRes_1718 FamResilience_1718 
confident_1718 ACEdivorce_1718 ACEdeath_1718 ACEjail_1718 ACEdomviol_1718 ACEneighviol_1718 ACEmhealth_1718 ACEdrug_1718 ACEdiscrim_1718
sex_1718 SC_AGE_YEARS SC_HISPANIC_R SC_RACE_R raceAsia_1718 povSCHIP_1718 FPL_I1 AdultEduc_1718 FamCount_1718 RecogLetter_1718 
CountTo_1718 CONFIDENT WorkToFin_1718 HurtSad_1718 WriteName_1718;
format CONFIDENT confidentf. prntnativity_1718 prntnativityf. confident_1718 confidentf.;
set mc759.nsch1718combined_drc;
run;

---

[ballardw]

The "if" has to come after the SET. Otherwise there are no values to compare.

Please describe the ages that you want to keep.

When you say Age > 5 then the 2>= age will never be true so the compound comparison will not find any records. (2 not being larger than 5)

If you want to keep records with the age between 2 and 5 this is more likely.

If 2 <= age <=5 ;

An If of this form is called a subsetting if and only records with the comparison true are kept.

[PGStats · Accepted solution]

This instead

data nsch1718;
set mc759.nsch1718combined_drc;
if 2 < SC_AGE_YEARS <= 5;
keep ACEct_1718 PrntNativity_1718 TalkAbout_1718 WrkToSolve_1718 strengths_1718 hopeful_1718 CtFamRes_1718 FamResilience_1718 
confident_1718 ACEdivorce_1718 ACEdeath_1718 ACEjail_1718 ACEdomviol_1718 ACEneighviol_1718 ACEmhealth_1718 ACEdrug_1718 ACEdiscrim_1718
sex_1718 SC_AGE_YEARS SC_HISPANIC_R SC_RACE_R raceAsia_1718 povSCHIP_1718 FPL_I1 AdultEduc_1718 FamCount_1718 RecogLetter_1718 
CountTo_1718 CONFIDENT WorkToFin_1718 HurtSad_1718 WriteName_1718;
format CONFIDENT confidentf. prntnativity_1718 prntnativityf. confident_1718 confidentf.;
run;

[ayosas]

Thank you!!