topic Re: Converting numeric to character via format in SAS Procedures

Converting numeric to character via format

RattyRatskin — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:11:01 GMT

Hi,

I have numeric data representing provinces that I formatted as characters using a proc format

proc format

value provFmt 10='NL' 11='NS' ...

I can use the character value in a model statement for example but in an if statement

if province='NL' or province='NS' then ...

then I get

NOTE: Character values have been converted to numeric values at the places given by:

(Line):(Column).

and the statement fails.

Any ideas on how to get around this?

Thanks!

Re: Converting numeric to character via format

ballardw — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:38:42 GMT

if put(province,provFmt.) in ('NL', 'NS') then ...

Re: Converting numeric to character via format

Astounding — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:39:09 GMT

By creating a format, you haven't changed the values of PROVINCE. You have only changed how they print. So the IF statement should refer to the actual values:

if province=10 or province=11 then ...

if province in (10, 11) then ...

Good luck.

Re: Converting numeric to character via format

RattyRatskin — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:55:25 GMT

Thanks, Astounding. I'm confused, though. I can use

class province(ref='NL')

and that works fine...i.e. it's behaving as if 'NL' is the value (or an alias).

Anyway, is there a way to really change the values of province?

Thanks,

Re: Converting numeric to character via format

ballardw — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:37:28 GMT

Many place SAS will use the formatted value if the variable was permanently associated with the format.

For use in a datastep IF you'll basically need to create a new variable with the text value.

Either a straight forward:

ProvinceText = put(province,provFmt.);

or if the variable just has to be named Province

data want;

set have (rename=(province=provnum));

Province = put(provnum,provFmt.);

/* and optionally */

drop provnum;

run;

Re: Converting numeric to character via format

RattyRatskin — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:44:22 GMT

Thanks, ballardw.

Re: Converting numeric to character via format

Tom — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:06:57 GMT

Why you have to use ref='NL' instead of ref=10 is explained in this note:

37108 - Setting the reference levels for the CLASS predictor variables