topic Re: Changing pre-existing character variable to numeric variable in SAS Programming

Changing pre-existing character variable to numeric variable

JibJam221 — Tue, 17 May 2022 02:18:05 GMT

Hi all,

im having some issues changing one of my variables from Character ($CHAR1.) to numeric (BEST12.) so that I can append it to another table. The variable's format that im trying to change is a pre-existing variable within the dataset.

Here is my current code:

data work.test2;
set work.test;
SYD=input(SYD,BEST12.);
run;

when I run this code, I dont get any errors or warnings however the variable doesn't change formats.

Any suggestions on what I can do?

Thanks!

Re: Changing pre-existing character variable to numeric variable

Astounding — Tue, 17 May 2022 02:23:43 GMT

Variables can't change their type. But you can work around it:

data work.test2;
   set test;
   newvar = input(SYD, best12.);
   drop SYD;
   rename newvar = SYD;
run;

Re: Changing pre-existing character variable to numeric variable

japelin — Tue, 17 May 2022 02:25:57 GMT

Is the following NOTE being output to the log?

This means that an implicit conversion is taking place because the result of converting SYD to a number with the input function is stored in a character variable.
Since SAS does not allow variable type change, rename is required as follows.

data work.test2(drop=_SYD);
  set work.test(rename=(SYD=_SYD));
  SYD=input(_SYD,BEST12.);
run;

Re: Changing pre-existing character variable to numeric variable

JibJam221 — Tue, 17 May 2022 02:48:03 GMT

it worked! Thank you!!!

Re: Changing pre-existing character variable to numeric variable

JibJam221 — Tue, 17 May 2022 02:48:29 GMT

I also tried this and it worked as well! Thank you so much