I am trying to conduct a meta-analysis and I have binary variables, so I am attempting to use proc glimmix to accomplish this. When I try, it keeps giving me errors about the variables.    Here is my code and dataset:   data meta; input ID $ shortIPI $ PTB $ Count @@; datalines; study1 yes yes 815  study1 yes no 20998 study1 no yes 899  study1 no no 23972 study2 yes yes 6395  study2 yes no 48072 study2 no yes 2338  study2 no no 22276 study3 yes yes 416  study3 yes no 2893 study3 no yes 1291  study3 no no 12434 ; proc print data=meta; run; proc freq data=meta; tables shortIPI*PTB / chisq; weight count; run; proc freq data=meta; table ID*shortIPI*PTB /cmh; weight count; run; proc means data=meta mean q1 median q3 var stddev; run; proc glimmix data=meta; class ID shortIPI PTB; model shortIPI/count = count / solution; random intercept / subject=ID; run;   Here is the error code I keep seeing: Error: A character response variable is not possible for the chosen distribution. Only for BINARY and        MULTINOMIAL distributions are character response variables permitted.   which I am guessing means I have to merge the binary variable with my count somehow? ... View more

I am trying to use a backwards selection process to create a parsimonious model using proc logistic.   when I attempt it my code is this:   proc logistic data=test2; class stroke(ref="1") / param=ref; model prevhyp (event="1")= stroke diabetes sysbp educ BMI diabp totchol glucose prevchd; selection=stepwise; slentry=0.05 slstay=0.20 details lackfit; run;     and my SAS log says this:   248  proc logistic data=test2; 249  class stroke(ref="1") / param=ref; 250  model prevhyp (event="1")= stroke diabetes sysbp educ BMI diabp totchol glucose prevchd; 251  selection=stepwise;      ---------      180 ERROR 180-322: Statement is not valid or it is used out of proper order. 252  slentry=0.05 253  slstay=0.20 254  details 255  lackfit; 256  run;   I am not sure what I am doing wrong as I have never used the SLSTAY function before. ... View more