topic Re: How do I convert ordinal characters to numeric in SAS Programming

How do I convert ordinal characters to numeric

sms39 — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 22:34:01 GMT

Hi all,

I'm sure this is answered somewhere else but I can't seem to find it, so I'll ask here. I'm new to SAS and am having trouble converting a char data variable to a numeric one. The variable in question is a list of data all formatted as a mix of character: 002AB0001, 002AB0002, 002AB0003 and so on). I am hoping to change it to only the last 4 digits (ex: 0001, 0002, 0003). Any suggestions on the proper code for this?

I've tried a few commands, including the one below, but am not sure how to specify to SAS that I'm interested in the last 4.

Thank you all

failed attempt:

data new_set;

old_var = "002AB0001";

numeric_var = input(old_var,4.);

run;

Re: How do I convert ordinal characters to numeric

Reeza — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 23:02:32 GMT

SUBSTR() will get the last four characters. If it's mixed length it's a bit harder, because you need to count backwards.

partial_var = substr(old_var, 6);
numeric_var = input(partial_var, 4.);

if the length of the variable does change you can use LENGTH() as well.

partial_var = substr(old_var, length(old_var)-4);

Leading zeros will be dropped in a numeric variable though.

Re: How do I convert ordinal characters to numeric

Tom — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 00:16:33 GMT

@sms39 wrote:

Hi all,

I'm sure this is answered somewhere else but I can't seem to find it, so I'll ask here. I'm new to SAS and am having trouble converting a char data variable to a numeric one. The variable in question is a list of data all formatted as a mix of character: 002AB0001, 002AB0002, 002AB0003 and so on). I am hoping to change it to only the last 4 digits (ex: 0001, 0002, 0003). Any suggestions on the proper code for this?

I've tried a few commands, including the one below, but am not sure how to specify to SAS that I'm interested in the last 4.

Thank you all

failed attempt:

data new_set;

old_var = "002AB0001";

numeric_var = input(old_var,4.);

run;

You are asking SAS to read the FIRST 4 characters as try to convert to a number. But the letter A is not valid.

To get the LAST 4 characters use SUBSTR() function first. If you know you always want from the 5th character onwards use can just use on argument to SUBSTR(). The width you use for the INFORMAT doesn't really matter if you want to read the whole string. The maximum width that normal numeric informat will read is 32 bytes.

numeric_var = input(substr(old_var,5),32.);

If the prefix length varies then count backwards from the end. Subtracting 3 from the length will get the last 4 characters.

numeric_var = input(substr(old_var,length(old_var)-3),32.);

If the numeric suffix length varies then start where it begins instead.

numeric_var = input(substr(old_var,findc(old_var,,'dk',-length(old_var))),32.);

Re: How do I convert ordinal characters to numeric

Ksharp — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 12:49:00 GMT

data new_set;
old_var = "002AB0001";
numeric_var = input(scan(old_var,-1,,'kd'),best.);
run;

Re: How do I convert ordinal characters to numeric

sms39 — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 13:44:21 GMT

This worked like a charm, thank you!