topic Right Function in SAS Procedures

Right Function

L_L — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:39:56 GMT

Dear all

I 'would like to right allign a character variable. I'm using Right function but maybe wrongly.

data mydata;

set mydata;

length test $10.;

test='score';

test_r=right(test);

run;

I' would like to obtain

test=score

test_r= score

What I have is test=test_r=score.

What's missing?

thank in advance

Right Function

art297 — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:50:45 GMT

Your code does result in values for test_r that have a length of 10, i.e., 5 spaces followed by the string "score".

What is it that you are trying to use it for? You might want to read the discussion at the following thread: http://www.mathkb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/sas/13346/how-to-right-align-character-data-in-the-dataset

Right Function

L_L — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:20:33 GMT

Thanks for your help.

Yes I'm trying to obtain a variable with 5 blanks followed by the string "score". I read the discussion you proposed: the only way to right allign with blanks is using the formats?

thanks in advance

Right Function

art297 — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:33:53 GMT

As I mentioned, your code DID result in a variable with 5 blanks followed by the string "score". You can test that with the following code:

data mydata;

set sashelp.class;

length test $10.;

test='score';

test_r=right(test);

if not index(substr(test_r,1,5),"s") then

not_padded="Yes";

if index(substr(test_r,1,6),"s") then

is_padded="Yes";

run;

However, unless formatted, SAS procedures will typically strip the leading blanks. If you want to show them in, say, proc report, use a format. For example:

proc print data=mydata;

format test_r $char10.;

run;