topic Convert column type from character to numeric in SAS Programming

Convert column type from character to numeric

y_fu — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:00:52 GMT

When I import a SAS table, there is a column with date and time like this:

date_time

11JUN18:20:19:14

12JUN18:14:04:28

...

etc.

This column has type: Date with length $8.

How can I convert this column into a column with type:character?

Since I need to use find function later to separate this data set into several weekly data sets.

The format of output can be just like above or like "11JUN18" without the time.

Re: Convert column type from character to numeric

PaigeMiller — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:10:12 GMT

You can't convert a numeric variable to character, or vice versa.

You can create a new variable from your date_time that is character, but your justification is weak ("Since I need to use find function later to separate this data set into several weekly data sets"), and this is not a good thing to do. It would be easier to separate this data into several weekly data sets if you left it as numeric. The INTCK function makes this very simple if you have a numeric variable. I can't even imagine separating data into weekly data sets if it is a character variable.

And you'd even be better off not separating the data into different data sets at all and then keep it as one big data set and use a BY statement when you do the analysis.

Re: Convert column type from character to numeric

y_fu — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:18:37 GMT

But the time are all different within the same date.

For example, if I want to analyse data from 10JUN18 to 23JUN2018, what should I do?

I cannot use if then since the time are all different.

Re: Convert column type from character to numeric

PaigeMiller — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:27:32 GMT

@y_fu wrote:

But the time are all different within the same date.

For example, if I want to analyse data from 10JUN18 to 23JUN2018, what should I do?

I cannot use if then since the time are all different.

I'm not sure what this means. Why is the time a problem? But nevertheless, the INTCK function makes all of this simple. And I did not suggest you use "if then".

Re: Convert column type from character to numeric

Reeza — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:25:54 GMT

1. A length of $8 reflects a character variable not a numerical variable, so verify your type vs format vs length. Not sure what makes you think it is numeric. SAS only has two types, numeric and character, a date variable is numeric with a date format.

2. It should be stored as a number with an appropriate format to enable better usage such as date intervals or applying a format to get summary statistics easily.

3. To group your data, a character conversion won't help you since the time will still be different. Rather use a Date format or DATEPART () function to extract only the date portion of the date time variable and use that in your calculations instead.

@y_fu wrote:

But the time are all different within the same date.

For example, if I want to analyse data from 10JUN18 to 23JUN2018, what should I do?

I cannot use if then since the time are all different.

Re: Convert column type from character to numeric

SuryaKiran — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 19:27:58 GMT

Importing SAS table or Importing external file into SAS? If your file is Excel and using proc import then, I would suggest you to convert it into CSV and read the data using DATA step INFILE which you will have more control over the data types.