topic Re: Convert char with symbols to numeric in New SAS User

Convert char with symbols to numeric

mantubiradar19 — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:37:14 GMT

I have a variable that looks as follows. It is in character format [Length - 9, Format - $9., informat - $9.] with * in some observations. I would like to know how I can convert this to numeric values?

_09015C_1_VALUE
1.28
1.52 *
1.50 *
1.58 *
1.74 *
1.18
1.01
1.61 *

I have tried these steps, but it didn't work

*SC=_09015C_1_VALUE*1;
SC=input(_09015C_1_VALUE,9.0);

Re: Convert char with symbols to numeric

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:41:42 GMT

Since there always seems to be a blank, use that to extract the numeric part before it:

data want;
input _09015C_1_VALUE $9.;
numvalue = input(scan(_09015C_1_VALUE,1," "),5.);
datalines;
1.28
1.52 *
1.50 *
1.58 *
1.74 *
1.18
1.01
1.61 *
;

Re: Convert char with symbols to numeric

mantubiradar19 — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:50:07 GMT

Can you tell me what is the meaning of 1 and 5. in the code?
numvalue = input(scan(_09015C_1_VALUE,1," "),5.);

Re: Convert char with symbols to numeric

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:57:23 GMT

1 means "first part", and the 5. is an informat.

I invite you to study the documentation of the SCAN Function, the INPUT Function, and the w.d Informat.

Re: Convert char with symbols to numeric

mantubiradar19 — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 13:42:58 GMT

Thank you so much Kurt!