Date:         Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:08:29 -0800
Reply-To:     Bruce Weaver <bruce.weaver@hotmail.com>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Bruce Weaver <bruce.weaver@hotmail.com>
Subject:      Re: Selecting the rightmost variable of several columns
In-Reply-To:  <1298307151449-3394411.post@n5.nabble.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

rmjdgeh wrote:
>
> Dear list,
>
> Does anyone know how I can select value from the "rightmost" of a set of
> columns?
>
> For example, each column might represent the same variable measured in
> different years. I want to select the most recent information, because the
> value might be missing for the current year.
>
> Many thanks,
> Gareth
>

If I follow, you want to do something like this.

* Read in some sample data.
data list / v1 to v3 1-3 .
begin data.

1
 2
  3
12
 23
123
end data.

* Pick out right-most valid value.

numeric rigthmost (f2.0).
do repeat v = v1 to v3.
- if not missing(v) rightmost = v.
end repeat.
list.

HTH.


-----
--
Bruce Weaver
bweaver@lakeheadu.ca
http://sites.google.com/a/lakeheadu.ca/bweaver/

"When all else fails, RTFM."

NOTE: My Hotmail account is not monitored regularly.
To send me an e-mail, please use the address shown above.

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