topic Re: Special characters in database are replaced by '?' in sas dataset. in ODS and Base Reporting

Special characters in database are replaced by '?' in sas dataset.

Siddhartha — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:02:37 GMT

In a database called eTrack for the clinical study the last name has been entered as:
last name = Castaño
last name = Peña

However, when i extract the dataset the name outputs as 'Casta?o' and 'Pe?a' in the sas dataset.

Re: Special characters in database are replaced by '?' in sas dataset.

deleted_user — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 07:27:12 GMT

The use of a tilde as a diacritical is most often seen in Spanish, and these names seem to have a Spanish origin. Unfortunately, when it was first developed, the IBM standard character set did not include many of the accents used in other languages, and it is only the extended character sets where you will find these available for users.

Word generally renders the extended character sets correctly, but a lot of simpler packages do not. I have no idea where you "extract the dataset" to, but I suspect it is a limitation of that package, and not of SAS.

If the issue is with SAS then look at the National Language setting of your SAS session.

Kind regards

David

Re: Special characters in database are replaced by '?' in sas dataset.

vicky26s — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:06:46 GMT

Hi All
I have problem when i want to insert word 2003 symbols to SAS, then it shows ? in the SAS. Any idea?

Re: Special characters in database are replaced by '?' in sas dataset.

sbb — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:19:59 GMT

SAS support website reference for National Language Support or NLS:

http://support.sas.com/documentation/onlinedoc/nls/

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.