topic Re: ‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’ convert in SAS Programming

‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’ convert

zimcom — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 12:04:11 GMT

Dear community,

I need to merge two datasets with the variable ‘Subject’, but ‘Subject’ variable appear to be different type in each dataset as below:

Column Name	Type	Length	Format	Informat
Subject	Text	8	$8.	$8.

Column Name	Type	Length	Format	Informat
Subject	Num	8	BEST12.	BEST32.

Could someone tell me how I can convert the type ‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’, please.

Thank you

Re: ‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’ convert

Reeza — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 12:18:48 GMT

What software are you using? SAS has char and num, not ’text’.

If you’re using SAS PUT() converts a number to character and INPUT() is used to convert a character to a number. SAS doesn’t allow for the variable to change types so you need to Rename it as well.

Re: ‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’ convert

zimcom — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 12:28:16 GMT

I use SAS 9, in the dataset view columns, it dose show as 'Text'.

I have tried to use PUT() converts a number to character and INPUT() to convert a character to a number, and rename the variable after, but the merge is not successful, I am wondering if all the length, format and informat properties should also be the same.

Re: ‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’ convert

Tom — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 13:27:37 GMT

The best solution is to create the datasets using the right types.

Otherwise it is probably best to convert them both to numbers. There are no formatting issues with numbers.

The problem with converting the number to text is how do you format the numbers. Are they integers? Do they have leading zeros? Leading spaces?

Re: ‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’ convert

Reeza — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 14:47:05 GMT

@zimcom wrote:

I use SAS 9, in the dataset view columns, it dose show as 'Text'.

I have tried to use PUT() converts a number to character and INPUT() to convert a character to a number, and rename the variable after, but the merge is not successful, I am wondering if all the length, format and informat properties should also be the same.

No, PUT()/INPUT() should work. Post your code and log, you likely have a mistake somewhere.

Re: ‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’ convert

singhsahab — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 15:32:32 GMT

Here you can go ...

data have1;
input subject;
datalines;
1
2
3
;
run;

data have2;
input subject $;

datalines;
1
2
3
;
run;

data have3 (drop=subject);
set have2;
subject1=input(subject,8.);
run;

data want;
merge have1(in=a) have3(in=b rename=(subject1=subject));
by subject;
if a and b;
run;

Re: ‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’ convert

zimcom — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 16:32:45 GMT

@singhsahab

@Reeza

@Tom

Thank you all and have a great day!