What are some to convert numeric values stored in a field that is defined as character to a field defined as numeric.
INPUT() function. Choose an appropriate informat.
data want ;
set have;
numvar = input(charvar,10.);
run;
You can't convert the field to numeric.
You can create a new numeric variable that has the same value as the character variable (except that it is translate to a number)
numericvar=charactervar+0;
Not really the best but you'll find it in some folks code is to do arithmetic with it.
numvar = 0 + charactervariable;
This will generate warning messages about conversion of strings to numeric.
Very similar ...
If you have already defined a new variable as numeric, just copy:
length numvar 8;
numvar = charactervariable;
If the character variable takes on unusual values that can't be converted to numeric, you will receive a warning.
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