topic Removing Decimal Points in SAS Programming

Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:28:21 GMT

All,

Is there an easy way to remove decimal points from data? I have variables yvar1-yvar24 that I want to output to a text file without decimal points.

the data might be 2.12 or .801 and I'd like them to be 212 and 801. Is there any way to take out the decimal places either before or during the export? Thanks.

Re: Removing Decimal Points

sf388 — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:44:09 GMT

You could use the compress function, e.g. yvar1=compress(yvar1,'.')

Re: Removing Decimal Points

sbb — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:00:25 GMT

Presuming yours are SAS NUMERIC type variables, you can use a SAS assignment statement to create a uniquely-named SAS CHARACTER type variable using the COMPRESS function, as mentioned, but with a different SAS variable. And, to avoid the SAS NOTE about conversion, use the PUT(,BEST.) in your assignment surrounded by the COMPRESS.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.
Suggested Google advanced search argument, this topic / post:

convert numeric character variable site:sas.com

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Peter_C — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:05:29 GMT

If your export uses a data step, then it can be adapted to compress the entire file buffer in a single compress()
put varA varB varZ @;
_file_= compress(_file_,'.');
Put;

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:57:33 GMT

Ok, first off thanks. Second, the compress function must be used with character variables? Can I use a put statement to convert yvar1-yvar24 at the same time to character variables or would I need to do them indiviually?

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Peter_C — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:29:58 GMT

of course you could compress after converting individually to char type.
converted = compress( put( yVar1, best10.), '.' );
or
converted = compress( vvalue(vYar1 ), '.' ) ;[pre]
175 data ;
176 retain yVar1 123.45 yVar2 456.789 ;
177 converted1 = compress( put( yVar1, best10.), '.' );
178 converted2 = compress( vvalue(yVar2 ), '.' ) ;
179 put (_all_)(=/);
180 run;

yVar1=123.45
yVar2=456.789
converted1=12345
converted2=456789
NOTE: The data set WORK.DATA3 has 1 observations and 4 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):[/pre]

Trying to avoid that is why I suggested compressing periods out of the line just before you release it. Here is a saslog to demonstrate[pre]287 data test_data ;
288 input yVar1 - yVar24 ;
289 format yVar: best18. ;
290 list;cards ;

RULE: ----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7----+----8----+----9----+----0
291 12 123.4 2345.678 765.2 45678.1234 456 54678.456 1.45678 .3456 2345 12345 9843 12345678 5432.54 3456
101 7889045 .2345 23456789.6789 1234567890.32 23456.1234 123.3456 .345 3456.2345 .4567 1234567890.32 23
201 456.1234 123.3456 .345 3456.2345 .4567
NOTE: The data set WORK.TEST_DATA has 1 observations and 24 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.01 seconds

292 ;
293
294 data _null_ ;
295 file 'no_dots.txt' dsd dlm='|' lrecl=10000 ; * pipe delimited output ;
296 set ; * load data ;
297 put (yVar1-yVar20)(:) @ ; * prepare and hold output line ;
298 _file_ = compress( _file_, '.' ) ; * remove dots from line ;
299 put ; * release line ;
300 run ;

NOTE: The file 'no_dots.txt' is:
File Name=C:\Applications\UK.Liquidity2\no_dots.txt,
RECFM=V,LRECL=10000

NOTE: 1 record was written to the file 'no_dots.txt'.
The minimum record length was 150.
The maximum record length was 150.
NOTE: There were 1 observations read from the data set WORK.TEST_DATA.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.03 seconds

301 data _null_ ;
302 infile 'no_dots.txt' lrecl=10000 ;
303 input ;
304 list ;
305 run ;

NOTE: The infile 'no_dots.txt' is:
File Name=C:\Applications\UK.Liquidity2\no_dots.txt,
RECFM=V,LRECL=10000

RULE: ----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7----+----8----+----9----+----0
1 12|1234|2345678|7652|456781234|456|54678456|145678|03456|2345|12345|9843|12345678|543254|34567889045
101 |02345|234567896789|123456789032|234561234|1233456 150
NOTE: 1 record was read from the infile 'no_dots.txt'.
The minimum record length was 150.
The maximum record length was 150.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.00 seconds[/pre]
I applied bold for the step which outputs the data and removes the dots

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:57:26 GMT

Peter, that is great, thank you very much. My only problem now is that the compression removes the ending zeros in the data. Is there a way to prevent that from happening?

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Peter_C — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:41:17 GMT

well,
that implies your data are already formatted - so,
remove that statement

format yVar: best18. ;

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:08:07 GMT

Well, I am importing the data from an excel spreadsheet. I know the actual data, meaning yvar1-yvar24, is numeric. I don't have any statement defining that, they imort that way. Are you saying I should use the format you provided? I've got everything else but this darn decimal point thing. Very frustrating.

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:37:43 GMT

I'm having trouble converting from numeric to character for yvar1-yvar24. I need to keep 3 implied decimal places.

For example, if one data point was 0.850 I need to it to be 0850 or another example is 1.250 I'd need it to be 1250, implying 3 decimal places. yvar1-yvar24 are imported (using the import wizard, as numeric) converting to character is required to use compress()?

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Peter_C — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:06:17 GMT

easy
proc format
allows you to define how to present numbers
it even allows you to multiply by 1000
and by 100 in another format.
If you have a consistent requirement to show the yVar1-24 in the same format [pre]proc format ;
picture millis(round)
/* missing */ . = ' '
-9.999 - -0 = '00000'(mult=1000 prefix='-')
0 - 9.999 = '00000'(mult=1000)
other = [best5.]
;
run ;[/pre]%put testing millis %sysfunc( putn( 100/81, millis )) full precision %sysfunc( putn( 100/81, best16 )) ;
%put testing millis %sysfunc( putn(-100/81, millis )) full precision %sysfunc( putn(-100/81, best16 )) ;
%put testing millis %sysfunc( putn( 1, millis )) full precision %sysfunc( putn( 1, best16 )) ;
%put testing millis %sysfunc( putn(-1, millis )) full precision %sysfunc( putn(-1, best16 )) ;
Use the millis. format like[pre]data _null_ ;
file 'your report.txt' lrecl=10000 ;
set your.data ;
format yVar1 - yVar24 millis. ;
put yVar1 -yVar24 ;
run ;[/pre]

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:19:43 GMT

When trying to use the millis format it tells me it is not found or could not be loaded. I am running SAS 9.1, is this not a part of 9.1?

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Peter_C — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:22:39 GMT

that is what the proc format code is for

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:30:19 GMT

I see. You created your own format. Let me play with that and I'll report back. Thanks Peter.

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:40:07 GMT

Peter, that does everything I need except for it drops the leading zeros for the observations that are less than one. I.E.

0.250 becomes 250 while I need it to look like 0250. The values greater than one like 1.350 look like 1350 and are perfect. Your format works great for removing the decimal point. I would like to learn all this stuff myself, I just need to keep plugging away to gain the knowledge. Maybe once I figure out this project you can run through that format code with a quick explanation?

Re: Removing Decimal Points

sbb — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:49:15 GMT

Given you are interested in a "formatted value", it appears you will need to run through your SAS variable list using PUTN (rather than PUT as I suggested using the BEST. format) along with the return-value from VFORMAT, in order to get your "numeric" data accurately represented as "character-string" data but with any intervening decimal points removed.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

Suggested Google advanced search arguments, this topic / post:

putn function site:sas.com

vformat function site:sas.com

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:10:39 GMT

Scott, I think your level of SAS knowledge is too far above mine to know what you mean without further explanation.

Re: Removing Decimal Points

sbb — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:24:05 GMT

You've been given several code examples with which to start. Suggest reviewing the DOC on suggested call functions, come up with a program, come back to the forum for feedback, based on your results thus far.

Based on what you've seen so far, sure hope you have some sort of SAS program to work with, right?

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

Re: Removing Decimal Points

Aar684 — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:34:40 GMT

I've been given several different ways to try this. I get close to having one set the way I want it then I get suggested another way to try it and I am back at square one. I was one step away from getting Peter's code working, the only thing I needed to was to keep leading zeros. You suggested something I'm not familiar with, so I asked for more detail. I have about 20 different sets of code I'm trying to make work for me.

Re: Removing Decimal Points

sbb — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:46:19 GMT

If you notice, Peter.C has an early post which uses "PUT", "VVALUE" and "COMPRESS".....suggest working with that technique to begin with. And have a look at VFORMAT and PUTN functions in the SAS DOC or the SAS-hosted DOC on the support site.

I'm more inclined to lead instead of dragging, but there may be others on this forum who will do the coding for you.....by all means. In the meantime, let's see what you've got and go from there -- again, preferably in a SAS-generated log, not as your program.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc. Message was edited by: sbb