Date:         Sat, 23 Jul 2005 13:49:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Jack Hamilton <jfh@STANFORDALUMNI.ORG>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jack Hamilton <jfh@STANFORDALUMNI.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Help with the data
Comments: To: pchoate <pchoate@DDS.CA.GOV>
In-Reply-To:  <1122145844.610497.114640@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

pchoate wrote:

> Don't forget the <> (max) and >< (min) operators!

Yes, you don't want to use them because they will only lead to confusion.

=====
The MIN and MAX Operators

The MIN and MAX operators are used to find the minimum or maximum value of
two quantities. Surround the operators with the two quantities whose minimum
or maximum value you want to know. The MIN (><) operator returns the lower
of the two values. The MAX (<>) operator returns the higher of the two
values. For example, if A<B, then A><B returns the value of A.

If missing values are part of the comparison, SAS uses the sorting order for
missing values that is described in Order of Missing Values. For example,
the maximum value that is returned by .A<>.Z is the value .Z.

Note:   In a WHERE statement or clause, the <> operator is equivalent to NE.
=====

That last sentence is the killer.



--
Jack Hamilton
Sacramento, California