Creating Dummy Variable

[Joa14]

Hi, I have been trying for hours (in SAS University Version) to re-code SEX by a dummy variable Z (female: Z = 0 and male: Z = 1), such as IF SEX=’female’ THEN Z=0;
ELSE Z=1; 

The output results in blank spaces. I can't figure it out. Here is the data if someone could help me, please. Thank you so much!

YEAR	X	SEX	COLLEGE
1975	1	female	4.4
1976	2	female	4.7
1977	3	female	4.8
1978	4	female	4.7
1979	5	female	5
1980	6	female	6
1981	7	female	6.2
1982	8	female	6.4
1983	9	female	6.3
1984	10	female	6.3
1985	11	female	6.6
1986	12	female	6.6
1987	13	female	6.7
1988	14	female	7.2
1989	15	female	7.2
1990	16	female	7.4
1991	17	female	7.6
1992	18	female	7.8
1993	19	female	7.6
1975	1	male	5.3
1976	2	male	5.3
1977	3	male	5.4
1978	4	male	5.1
1979	5	male	5
1980	6	male	5.4
1981	7	male	5.6
1982	8	male	5.9
1983	9	male	6
1984	10	male	6
1985	11	male	5.9
1986	12	male	5.8
1987	13	male	6
1988	14	male	5.9
1989	15	male	6
1990	16	male	6.2
1991	17	male	6.4
1992	18	male	6.2
1993	19	male	6.3

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

First of all, you can't convert a character variable to a numeric one on the fly. You need to create a new variable.

Several methods can be used.

With an informat

proc format;
informat insex
  "female" = 0
  "male" = 1
;
run;

data want;
set have;
sex_num = input(sex,insex.);
run;

or by using a condition

data want;
set have;
if sex = "female"
then sex_num = 0;
else sex_num = 1;
run;

or the same, using a function

data want (drop=_sex);
set have (rename=(sex=_sex));
sex = ifn(_sex = "female",0,1);
run;

In the last one, you can see how to completely replace the variable by using dataset options.

[Joa14]

 KurtBremser

Thanks a lot for your response. The second code you gave me is very similar to the one I was using. The only difference is that I was using 'female' instead of "female" I do not know why it turned out to be a big difference. I got the dummy variable with that change. Thanks a lot!

Joa14

[Kurt_Bremser]

PS it is essential to know the current status. SEX might already be numeric and have a format attached, or the contents might not be exactly what you see (leading blanks etc, ). Also consider that the condition will be case-sensitive ("Female" <> "female"!).

[PaigeMiller]

It is rare when you need to covert categorical variables to dummy variables. Most SAS procedures work fine with the values 'female' and 'male', and don't need dummy variables; in fact they create the dummy variables internally so you don't have to.

So, unless you are in one of those very rare situations where you actually need to have dummy variables (and nothing you have said indicates you are in one of those very rare situations), don't create your own dummy variables. Make your life simple, do it the easy way.

[Joa14]

Paige Miller thank you so much. I agree with you, unfortunately, I have been requested to convert it by dummy variable.

Thanks!

Joa14