topic Re: Regarding decimal points controlling while using put function in SAS Procedures

Regarding decimal points controlling while using put function

smitalpatel — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 14:55:25 GMT

In numeric variable, I have numbers with 2 and 3 decimal points. what format can I use to convert them to the character format with same decimal points.

Re: Regarding decimal points controlling while using put function

RW9 — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 15:05:03 GMT

Well, if the numbers are all in one column then you likely have a general format such as best. applied to it. Set the format explicity that you want:

format <your_variable> 5.3;

This will give the number 5 elements including dot e.g.
42.32

However to extra zeroes to pad out you use the z format:

format <your_variable> z7.4;

So 42.3 would become:

42.3000

Re: Regarding decimal points controlling while using put function

Astounding — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 19:01:28 GMT

As was noted, you don't have to convert them. You could simply use a format when printing them.

Since your original question asked about converting them to character, you would use a PUT function.

newvar = put(oldvar, 8.3);

The width that you choose ("8" in this example) must be wide enough to include all characters that will be needed: digits before the decimal point, digits after, the decimal point itself, and a negative sign if needed.