Replacing the values in a variable with ordered numbers

[Jad Tamimi]

Hello, I have a variable which contains random numbers in each value, also there are missing values between each of the values in the variable. I would like to replace each value in the variable with ordered numbers.

For example if I have 'n' values in the variable, I would like the first appearing value to be '1' and the second appearing value to be '2' all the way up to 'n'. What code can I use to implement this?

[Rich Goldstein]

I'm a bit confused, and you don't say what you want to do when the value is missing, but the following will do what I think you are asking:

replace varname=_n

or, if you don't want to replace the missing values:

replace varname=_n if varna me<.

obviously, you should replace "varna me" in the above with whatever the actual name of the variable is

[Jad Tamimi]

Hi there, thanks for your reply, I don't want to do anything to the missing values.

The problem with the code you provided is that its gives values that are equal to _n, I have entries that are separated by missing values but I want them to be ordered numerically for example 1,2,3. But the code you gave makes these values for example 1, 44, 98. I want them to be ordered even though they are separated by missing values.

[Clyde Schechter]

Perhaps this:

replace varname = sum(!missing(varname))

[Jad Tamimi]

This works! Thanks Guys!