topic Re: decimal in SAS Programming

Scientific notation while exporting to csv

HeatherNewton — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 08:51:10 GMT

when I convert sas dataset to csv one file looks like this

2.0223322E12

how can I transform its format before converting to csv so that it looks like a normal decimal?

Re: decimal

HeatherNewton — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 03:29:40 GMT

sorry I need look like a 14 digit no not a decimal

eg 12345678901234

Re: decimal

ballardw — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 05:15:40 GMT

@HeatherNewton wrote:

when I convert sas dataset to csv one file looks like this

2.0223322E12

how can I transform its format before converting to csv so that it looks like a normal decimal?

You don't say where you are looking at this. If, as I suspect, you are examining the CSV file with spreadsheet software try making the column width wider. One common behavior is to attempt to display something that consists of many digits in the allowed space. So the software displays the value as scientific notation.

Or open the CSV in a TEXT editor to confirm the value was not exported by SAS as exponential. At which point make sure that the format SAS has for the variable will display properly. If your values actually have more than 14 digits you likely need to consider if it should be numeric at all as you bumping up against the storage precision of numeric values.

Which raises question, exactly what does the value represent? If you are not doing arithmetic with it, like an account number or other identifier, then it should be stored as character.

Re: decimal

LinusH — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 08:44:33 GMT

What method are you using for the export?

If you specify a format with an explicit length for that variable it might help, e.g., "14."