topic Re: Character length cannot be used with numeric variable? in SAS Programming

Character length cannot be used with numeric variable?

ResoluteCarbon — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 04:43:16 GMT

Hi all,

Today when I run the code as below:

data np_parks;
	set pg2.np_final;
	putlog "NOTE:START DATASTEP ITERATION"
	keep Region ParkName AvgMonthlyVisitors Acres Size;
	LENGTH Size $6.;
    where Type="PARK";
	PUTLOG tYPE;
	format AvgMonthlyVisitors Acres comma10.;
    Type=propcase(Type);
	AvgMonthlyVisitors=sum(DayVisits,Campers,OtherLodging)/12;
	if Acres<1000 then Size="Small";
	else if Acres<100000 then Size="Medium";
	else Size="Large";
	PUTLOG='CONTENT';
run;

In the original datasetpg2.np_final, there is no column for Size, so Size just being written to PDV after the compilation progress going through all the data statement in this data step. I am wondering why it causes an error in the log as below

56         data np_parks;
57         	set pg2.np_final;
58         	putlog "NOTE:START DATASTEP ITERATION"
59         	keep Region ParkName AvgMonthlyVisitors Acres Size;
60         	LENGTH Size $6.;
ERROR: Character length cannot be used with numeric variable Size.
61             where Type="PARK";
62         	PUTLOG tYPE;
63         	format AvgMonthlyVisitors Acres comma10.;
64             Type=propcase(Type);
65         	AvgMonthlyVisitors=sum(DayVisits,Campers,OtherLodging)/12;
66         	if Acres<1000 then Size="Small";
67         	else if Acres<100000 then Size="Medium";
68         	else Size="Large";
69         	PUTLOG='CONTENT';
70         run;

It is quite clear to me that Size is a character rather than a numeric variable.

Thank you!

Re: Character length cannot be used with numeric variable?

qoit — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 05:15:26 GMT

Can you change the LENGTH statement to FORMAT? I am not sure why the error unless I see the first few observations of the input data set.

Re: Character length cannot be used with numeric variable?

japelin — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 05:29:30 GMT

Because there is no semicolon after

putlog "NOTE:START DATASTEP ITERATION"

Re: Character length cannot be used with numeric variable?

ResoluteCarbon — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 05:30:42 GMT

Hi @qoit

The first few lines of the input are as below

And could you please let me know why I should change from length to format. Because length is to assign the length for a variable in the PDV while format just for displaying purpose. I am wondering you are mentioning informat rather than format?

Thank you.

Re: Character length cannot be used with numeric variable?

ResoluteCarbon — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 05:32:05 GMT

OMG, disaster!
Thank you @japelin . I just notice the character and numeric and forget the syntax error.
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