I have numeric variables with character values, SAS9

[sassafras_]

Hello, I am a fairly new SAS user and I am facing an issue with my code and/or the dataset I am working with.

When running a proc contents I have 5 variables that have a Type of Numeric, but the values taken on by these 5 variables are either Present, Absent, or . (missing). When I run the below code I get a clean log with no errors or warning messages; although all 8 variables output I only get one observation with all missing values ( . )

data redcap3;
     array LN(*) acr_ii acr_iii acr_iv acr_v;
     array Class(*) $ class_ii class_iii class_iv class_v;
     do i = 1 to dim(LN);
               class(i) = put(LN(i), $8.);
          end;
     drop i;
proc print;
run;

Does anyone know how to work with such variables? What steps do I need to take to change the variable type to character / or even code them as binary variables?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Kurt_Bremser]

Look at the formats assigned to the variables.

[sassafras_]

Can you please elaborate? Where would I go from there? 

[Reeza]

You likely have a format attached to the data. 

Run a PROC CONTENTS and examine the output, specifically the type and format for your field of interest.

A format allows data to be numeric underneath, but it can be viewed with the description. 

For example if you had a data set with Age, 1, 2,3 etc but wanted to see the numbers as One, Two, Three, you could use a format. 

In the example below, I've created another age variable, identical the age value, but applied a format. 

data class;
set sashelp.class;

age_numeric_format = age;
age_character = put(age, words.);

format age_numeric_format words.;
run;

title 'Demo of Formats';
proc print data=class;
run;

title 'Check formats and type for AGE variables';
proc contents data=class;run;
title;

You can remove a format from a variable to see the underlying values using a FORMAT statement:

data class_remove_formats;
set class;

format age_numeric_format ;*removes formats from age;
run;

title 'No format on age numeric format variable';
proc print data=class_Remove_formats;
run;
title;

Removing the formats is likely all you need/want to do.

format class_ii class_iii class_iv class_v;

---

@sassafras_ wrote:

Hello, I am a fairly new SAS user and I am facing an issue with my code and/or the dataset I am working with.

When running a proc contents I have 5 variables that have a Type of Numeric, but the values taken on by these 5 variables are either Present, Absent, or . (missing). When I run the below code I get a clean log with no errors or warning messages; although all 8 variables output I only get one observation with all missing values ( . )

data redcap3;
     array LN(*) acr_ii acr_iii acr_iv acr_v;
     array Class(*) $ class_ii class_iii class_iv class_v;
     do i = 1 to dim(LN);
               class(i) = put(LN(i), $8.);
          end;
     drop i;
proc print;
run;

Does anyone know how to work with such variables? What steps do I need to take to change the variable type to character / or even code them as binary variables?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

---

[sassafras_]

Thank you so much for the constructive feedback! I didn't realize it was so simple to remove formats.

This worked and I am able to move forward now. I greatly appreciate your help.