Date:         Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:46:25 -0500
Reply-To:     Mary <mlhoward@avalon.net>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Mary <mlhoward@AVALON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Using the Colon Modifier to Check "Doesn't Start With..."
Comments: To: Jack Clark <JClark@CHPDM.UMBC.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi, Jack,

How about using the Like statement in Proc SQL instead?

-Mary

data set1;

informat visittype $20.;

input visittype $;

cards;

045000

020000

045111

;



proc sql;

create table newset1 as

select * from set1

where visittype not like '045%';

quit;

run;

proc print data=newset1;

run;

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jack Clark 
  To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 3:01 PM
  Subject: Using the Colon Modifier to Check "Doesn't Start With..."


  Hello everyone,

   

  I feel a little greedy lately, as I have been asking more questions here
  than trying to answer, but here goes...

   

  I have a dataset with a 6-character field called Revenue Code (REVCODE).
  If REVCODE starts with '045', it is considered and Emergency Room Visit.
  In the past I have had a need to pull all observations of Emergency Room
  Visits and have successfully used the following syntax...

   

  data need;

     set have (where=(revcode=:'045'));

  run;

   

   

  Now, I need to do the opposite, pull all observations that are not
  Emergency Room Visits and I planned to use the same (but opposite)
  approach.  Can someone tell me why the following code does not work?

   

  data test;

     input revcode $;

  cards;

  045887

  045888

  044987

  123455

  ;

  run;

   

  data test2;

     set test (where=(not revcode=:'045'));

  run;

   

  LOG MESSAGE:

   

  112  data test2;

  113     set test (where=(not revcode=:'045'));

  ERROR: Where clause operator requires compatible variables.

  114  run;

   

   

  This is what I settled on for an alternate.  Any comments or suggestions
  are appreciated...

   

  data test2;

     set test (where=((revcode=:'045')=0));

  run;

   

   

  Thank you.

   

   

  Jack Clark

  Research Analyst

  Center for Health Program Development and Management

  University of Maryland, Baltimore County