topic Re: Converting or replicating array variables from character to numeric in SAS Programming

Converting or replicating array variables from character to numeric

Dritan007 — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:46:35 GMT

Hello guys.

I have this array with character variables, even though values are all 0 and 1 or ' ' for missing value. I need these variables in a numeric format but I am having a hard time. Is there a way to do so without creating another array?

Data looks like this.

I have referenced all the variables with an array, however the format I don't want character.

Re: Converting or replicating array variables from character to numeric

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 23:04:30 GMT

You must have a second array, because you cannot change the type of a variable.

Re: Converting or replicating array variables from character to numeric

Reeza — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 23:13:17 GMT

How did you import or create the data? Can you change it in a prior step - this is definitely possible if you imported the data from a text file.

If you created it, you can back up and modify your code. Otherwise, duplicate arrays are your best bet and pretty straightforward though definitely an annoyance.

data want;
set have;
array _orig(*) $2 <list of old vars>; *can be automated somewhat;
array _new(*) <list of new_vars>; *can be automated somewhat;
do i=1 to dim(_orig);
if not missing(_orig(i)) then _new(i) = input(orig(i), 8.);
end;

drop <list of old vars>;
run;