topic Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together in New SAS User

converting all the variables from character to numeric together

Smitha9 — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 14:56:22 GMT

Hi,

I have a dataset which have character variables. I want all the variables converted to numeric together with a code. I want the code which makes all the variables to numeric together.

thank you!

Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together

Jagadishkatam — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 15:08:00 GMT

data want;
set have;
array char(*) $ _character_;
array num(*) var1-Var10;

do i = 1 to dim(char);
if char(i) ne . then num(i)=input(char(i),best.);
end;
run;

Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together

ballardw — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 15:16:39 GMT

Often such a question relates to a problem or mistake made when bringing the data into SAS.

So, how did you read the data into SAS to begin with?

And ALL character variables or some variables?

Do you expect to have the same variable name when the process is finished? Once a SAS variable is created the type cannot change.

Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together

Smitha9 — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 15:59:44 GMT

most of them are character variables which are meant to be numeric

Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together

Smitha9 — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 16:05:44 GMT

I have three character variables which needs to be numeric. pincode,dateofbirth and platenumber.
how could i put these 3variables in this code to convert all these to numeric?

Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together

Jagadishkatam — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 16:16:04 GMT

Please try the below code for pincode and platenumber for conversion from character to numeric but for dateofbirth, we need to follow different approach inorder to read the date with a informat and then convert to numeric as in the code. Hope this helps

data want;
set have;
array char(*) $ pincode platenumber;
array num(*) pincoden platenumbern;
do i = 1 to dim(char);
if char(i) ne . then num(i)=input(char(i),best.);
end;
dateofbirth=input(dateofbirth,anydtdte.);
run;

Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together

Reeza — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 16:19:44 GMT

Did you import your data from a CSV or text file? If so, you should fix it at that stage and not after the fact. If you've read it in correctly from the source you can't correct it after the fact because you don't have it. Albeit, that's less likely when you've read them in as character field unless it was accidentally truncated.

Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together

Smitha9 — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 17:35:54 GMT

imported from csv file. how can i fix it in that stage? can you let me know? thanks

Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together

Reeza — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 17:39:12 GMT

When you used proc import the code was written to the log. Go find that code and modify the properties of the variables you want fixed. Apply the proper informat, format and length if needed.

Re: converting all the variables from character to numeric together

Astounding — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 21:06:10 GMT

This is a case where you can't afford to be lazy. You have to actually examine the data.

SAS made these variables character for a reason. Here are examples of values that might appear in the data, that SAS would have to treat as character:

> 5

N/A

+ 0

In real life, there will be many more examples. You have to examine the data and decide what the right numeric value would be. Here's how you do that:

proc freq data=have;

tables char_var;

where input(char_var, ??8.) = .;

run;

This will show you all the values that could not be converted to numeric. Examine them, decide what the right "decision" would be about how to store them as numeric. Then we can talk about programming.