unexpected conversion from number to character, SAS v 9.4

[JRake]

After importing an Excel file with a numeric variable, Var1, I'm getting the following error:

    "NOTE: Numeric values have been converted to character values at the places given by..."

I've tried the following statements, but still get the same error. What might be causing this & what's the fix?  There are no character values in the data.

   new9=input(Var1,4.1);
   drop Var1;
   rename new9=Var1;

[art297]

According to the documentation: Use INPUT to convert character values to numeric values or other character values.

If it's already numeric, you should just rename it (if desired) and apply whatever format you want for the variable.

Art, CEO, AnalystFinder.com

[JRake]

Is my code snippet incorrect?

[art297]

Sounds like you only want/need something like:

data want;
  set have (rename=(var1=var9));
  format var9 4.1;
run;

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

Why is it that you think VAR1 was character after the import?  Did you run a PROC CONTENTS?

Your code might be correct for a character VAR1.  (It also might not ... the 4.1 informat will insert a decimal point if it doesn't find one in the incoming string, but that's a secondary issue.)

The fact that you are getting the conversion message when you execute your sample statements means that VAR1 is already numeric.  The software had to convert it to character in order to apply the INPUT function.  Run a PROC CONTENTS before fiddling with the data to find out which variable is the real troublemaker.

[Reeza]

Proc import wouldn't generate that error, so what's the code that generates the error. 

Was the import correct, is the value read in correctly? Proc import guesses when importing since Excel doesn't follow any database standards so the data can be anything.