I have a dataset with values like this (it is a character with length of 7)
What I want is this - IF the actual value is less than 5 digits, add zeros to the beginning of the value until it is 5 digits long.
A simple loop could do it:
do while (length(var) < 5);
var = '0' || var;
end;
A simple loop could do it:
do while (length(var) < 5);
var = '0' || var;
end;
hi
the
variable is numeric so use formate option
DATA test_data1;
input studyid ;
format studyid z8.;
cards;
543
243
15967
26484143651
5442
124
1
23
4423
;
run;
formate zw.
w means total how many digits you want with zeros
@Astounding How exactly does this work? How is the data step looping back to keep adding zeros - I get that there's the while condition, but say I have 123 which needs 2 zeros in front of it. Data step will go through the loop to put the first 0 in front. How does it come back to that observation to add another zero? I know it has to do with the condition and the PDV, just not sure of the details...
It's the logic of DO WHILE.
After the first time through the loop a single zero has been added: 0123
The DO WHILE condition is still true, since the length is now 4. So the loop executes a second time, adding another zero: 00123
Now the DO WHILE condition is false, so the loop ends.
DATA test_data1;
length studyid $50;
input studyid $;
cards;
543
243
15967
26484143651
5442
124
1
23
4423
;
run;
data test_data1;
set test_data1;
if length(studyid) < 5 THEN DO;
studyid = repeat('0',5-length(studyid)) || studyid;
END;
run;
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