Proc Format: Character Variables

apple — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 07:51:45 GMT

I have numeric values stored as Character Variables, but I want to group them in ranges. Since for Character Variables, there is always the issue of missing out some values if I use range, can I just list out all the values? Thanks

Proc Format;

Value $ABC

'1', '2', '3'= '1-3';

run;

Re: Proc Format: Character Variables

RichardinOz — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 22:30:39 GMT

@apple

Yes you can list individual values as you suggest.

I have to ask why you are storing numeric values as character variables when it is causing you some difficulty managing the data. If your concern is saving space you would do better to apply the compress= option on the dataset. Numeric ranges are much easier to manage intuitively with numeric formats, and this is true even if the numbers are categorical values. Especially with dates (such as in the years data you posted elsewhere), you should be using numeric variables in preference to characters because it facilitates date arithmetic (comparing dates or displacing them by given intervals).

Richard in NZ

topic Proc Format: Character Variables in SAS Programming

Proc Format: Character Variables

Re: Proc Format: Character Variables