topic Leading Zeroes and retain numeric format in SAS Programming

Leading Zeroes and retain numeric format

Q1983 — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 21:28:12 GMT

data have;

input ln_no ;

datalines;

21555555

5544000

6654444

;

run;

data want;

set have;

if ln_no lt 17 THEN LN_No = (input(ln_no, best4.),z17.);

/*if ln_no lt 17 THEN LN_No = substr(left(LN_Nbr_R),1,10.);*/

/*if ln_no lt 17 THEN LN_No = put(ln_no, z10.);/*Ln_no = put(Account, z10.);*/

run;

ln_no started out as a numeric.

Desired output is to have a 17 digit number with leading zeros. The format should retain its numeric status

Something like this

0000000021555555

As you can see I have tried different pieces of code here.

Re: Leading Zeroes and retain numeric format

SASKiwi — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 21:47:05 GMT

If your variable is actually a loan number with as many as 17

digits, then SAS can't hold that number accurately in a numeric variable. You need to store it as a character variable:

data have;
  input @1 ln_no $12.;
  ln_no_new = repeat('0', 16 - length(ln_no) - 1) !! ln_no;
  put _all_; 
  datalines;
21555555
5544000
6654444
;
run;

Re: Leading Zeroes and retain numeric format

hashman — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 22:01:03 GMT

@SASKiwi:

A bit of a problem with this offer is that REPEAT returns $200 by default, and so LN_NO_NEW will be $212. To avoid this, either length $17 has to be assigned to LN_NO_NEW beforehand or the $17. format should be applied to the result, like so:

  ln_no_new = put (repeat('0', 16 - length(ln_no) - 1) !! ln_no, $17.) ;

But perhaps it's simpler (at least to me) to use:

  ln_no_new = translate (put (ln_no, $17.-R), "0", "") ;

Kind regards

Paul D.

Re: Leading Zeroes and retain numeric format

SASKiwi — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 22:25:44 GMT

@hashman - Good point. A LENGTH statement would probably be the most obvious solution for others to follow.

Re: Leading Zeroes and retain numeric format

SASKiwi — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 22:46:40 GMT

@hashman - Or assign back to original variable having adjusted the INFORMAT to the required length:

data have;
  input @1 ln_no $16.;
  ln_no = repeat('0', 16 - length(ln_no) - 1) !! ln_no;
  put _all_; 
  datalines;
21555555
5544000
6654444
;
run;