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I am working with SAS and want to record variable which with over 50+ different qualitative dummies. For example, the state of the U.S.

In this case, I just want to reduce them into 4 or 5 levels dummy as quantitative variable.

I get several ideaS, for example to use if/else statement, however, the problem is that i have to write down and specify each of area name in SAS and the code looks like super heavy.

Is there any other ways to do that without redundant code? Or to avoid write each specific name of variable? In SAS.

Any ideas are appreciated!!

Method 1:

Use IN, but you still have to list the variables. You can also do it via a format, but you have to define the format first anyways.

if state in ('AL', 'AK', 'AZ' ... etc) then state_group = 1;
else if state in ( .... ) then state_group = 2;

Method 2:

For a format, you create format using PROC FORMAT and then apply it.

proc format;
value $ state_grp_fmt
'AL', 'AK', 'AZ' = 1
'DC', 'NC' = 2 ;
run;

And then you can use it with a PUT statement.

State_Group = put(state, state_grp_fmt);