Date:         Mon, 24 Oct 2005 23:01:17 -0400
Reply-To:     Arthur Tabachneck <art297@NETSCAPE.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Arthur Tabachneck <art297@NETSCAPE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Counting entries across variables

L_B,

I think you are asking for something like:

data start;
  informat a1-a20 $1.;
  array a(*) a1-a20 _char_;
  array b(20);
  infile cards truncover;
  input a1-a20;
  do i=0 to dim(a)-1;
    if a(i+1) eq '' then leave;
 else b(i+1)=1;
  end;
cards;
a b
a b c
a b c d
;
run;
proc freq data=start;
  tables b1-b20;
run;

Art
--------
On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 01:47:59 +0000, Laughing Beggar
<laughing_beggar@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

>Hi all,
>I have 20 character variables (d1-d20), that fill up from the left (ie
there
>wont be an entry in d2 if there isnt one in d1 etc). I need to count how
>many records have an entry (of any non-missing sort) in d1 only, then how
>many records have an entry in d1 and d2 only, then in d1-d3 only, then in
>d1-d4 only etc. So for each record I need to know how many of the d1-d20
are
>filled (call it x)and then I need a frequency distibution of x ("200
records
>have one (and only one) of d1-d20 filled, 150 have 2 (and only 2) filled,
56
>have 3 (and only 3) filled etc). All tips on how I might do this will be
>greatly appreciated.
>Cheers
>L_B
>
>"The beggar laughs in the face of the thief"