Arthur Yes, I should have provided a sample of my datasets. I want to attach a sample of the two datasets - have 1 & 2 but cannot find the attach option :smileyconfused:. I am following another paper which does the match sequentially using cusip, name and ID. The reason for this sequential match is to get the maximum match possible. Have1 Year Cusip1 Name ID Var 1990 1 app 123 4 1991 1 app 123 5 1990 2 bpp 321 6 1991 2 bpp 321 7 Have2 Year Cusip1 Name ID Var 1990 1 app 123 4 1991 1 ---- ---- 5 1990 --- bpp ---- 6 1991 2 ---- 321 7 Want Year Cusip1 Name ID Var 1990 1 app 123 4 1991 1 app 123 5 1990 2 bpp 321 6 1991 2 bpp 321 7 So, in the want set, I do not want to lose any values of the VAR variable since any particular identifier is missing in a year. I want to be ale to do this using alternative identifiers for years in which the initial identifier is missing.
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