topic Re: Create a new character variable! in SAS Programming

Create a new character variable!

sukumark — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 05:21:51 GMT

In below example, I would like to create a new character variable and with the attributes of second variable(FMTNAME)!! Resulting variable is RESULT_C.

RESULT_N FMTNAME

5 best.

5 z5.

5 dollar5.2

RESULT_C

00005

$5.00

Thanks in Advance,

Sukumar

Re: Create a new character variable!

RichardinOz — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 06:14:53 GMT

Use the PUTN() function

Data want ;

set have ;

result_C = PUTN (result_N, fmtname) ;

Run ;

(Untested)

Richard

Re: Create a new character variable!

RichardinOz — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 06:17:13 GMT

You will probably also need a Length statement:

Data want ;

set have ;

Length result_C $ 5 ;

result_C = PUTN (result_N, fmtname) ;

keep result_C ;

Run ;

(Untested)

Richard

Re: Create a new character variable!

RW9 — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 10:16:27 GMT

Just to note RichardinOz, best. will return 8 characters but default so will be truncated by the $5. Pop a strip() around the putn, or increase the with to $10.

Re: Create a new character variable!

sukumark — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:58:00 GMT

Thank you for the answer! Is there any conventional method other than PUTN() ?

Re: Create a new character variable!

RichardinOz — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 21:40:35 GMT

The PUT functions PUT(), PUTN(), and PUTC(), are the SAS conventional methods for recasting or recoding values. PUTN() and PUTC() (for character values) allow the format to be provided dynamically, as you require in this case.

@RW9's amendment , or the use of the LEFT() function, is required if you use the modified version I supplied.

Richard