topic Variable XX has been defined as both character and numeric. in Statistical Procedures

Variable XX has been defined as both character and numeric.

ynchoir — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:36:54 GMT

Hi,

I have troubles in doing operation on my data 'ds_code', whose entry are all 6 or 7-digits numerics and characters.

Seeing this as a source of trouble, I converted it into character (Line 2108 of the codes below).

However, when I got to line 2117 (to identify which entry is the first for the particular ds_code), SAS shows the error message and stops.

Could anyone suggest me how to fix this? Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Yosh

2104 data ds;

2105 set monthly_prices_yield_and_returns;

2106 sp1lag = lag1(spread_over_benchmark_curve);

2107 sp3lag = lag3(spread_over_benchmark_curve);

2108 char_code = put(ds_code, 7.);

2109 drop ds_code;

2110 rename char_code = ds_code;

2111 run;

2112

2113 Data ds;

2114 retain ds_code c;

2115 old_ds_code=put(ds_code, 6.);

2116 old_c=c;

2117 set ds;

ERROR: Variable ds_code has been defined as both character and numeric.

2118 if old_ds_code=ds_code

2119 then c=old_c+1;

2120 else c=1;

2121 run;

Variable XX has been defined as both character and numeric.

Haikuo — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:43:38 GMT

Try this:

instead of :

char_code = put(ds_code, 7.);

use this:

char_code = put(ds_code, $7.);

Haikuo

Variable XX has been defined as both character and numeric.

Linlin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:01:26 GMT

Hi,

I don't know the purpose of your code, but the modified one ran without error.

data ds;

set ds;

char_code = put(ds_code, 7.);

drop ds_code;

rename char_code = ds_code;

run;

proc contents data=ds;run;

Data ds;

length old_ds_code $ 6;

retain ds_code c;

old_ds_code=ds_code;

old_c=c;

set ds;

if old_ds_code=ds_code

then c=old_c+1;

else c=1;

run;

proc print;run;

Variable XX has been defined as both character and numeric.

Tom — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:07:32 GMT

The first place that SAS sees reference to DS_CODE where it can infer a data type is inside the PUT function call. Since it is using a numeric format it defines DS_CODE as numeric. Then when it pulls in the variable from the dataset DS is discovers that there is type mismatch.

Variable XX has been defined as both character and numeric.

ynchoir — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:10:50 GMT

Linlin,

Thank you so much! That solved!! I fully appreciate the answers from the others.

Best,

Yosh