proc format on character variables

[haider_imam]

hello I have a variable which is in character format for e.g.  var PPP

PPP

400

401

402

403

404

405

406

407

408

409

410

I want to take everything from 400 to 405 and make it 405 and for 406 to 410 make it 410. This is what I tried 

proc format; 

value pppfmt

400 -< 405 = 405

406 -< 410 = 410;

run; 

data table1; 

set table; 

format ppp pppfmt.;

run; 

but I get an error in the data step saying the format could not be uploaded, I think it has to do with the fact I am using the technique used for formatting numbers on characters. 

Thanks in advance!

[Reeza]

If they're numbers you could just round it?

PPP_CAT = round(input(PPP, 8.) +2.5, 5);

Adding 2.5 ensures it will always round correctly to the value of interest. Make sure to test the boundaries though, ie 400, 405. 

---

@haider_imam wrote:

hello I have a variable which is in character format for e.g.  var PPP

PPP

400

401

402

403

404

405

406

407

408

409

410

I want to take everything from 400 to 405 and make it 405 and for 406 to 410 make it 410. This is what I tried 

proc format; 

value pppfmt

400 -< 405 = 405

406 -< 410 = 410;

run; 

data table1; 

set table; 

format ppp pppfmt.;

run; 

but I get an error in the data step saying the format could not be uploaded, I think it has to do with the fact I am using the technique used for formatting numbers on characters. 

Thanks in advance!

---

[haider_imam]

The format is CHAR,
and there are too many values under the variable. I need to narrow it down. Hence trying to figure out how to use PROC Format on CHAR variables.

[data_null__ · Accepted solution]

You need a character format to format character variables.

proc format; 
   value $pppfmt
      '400'-'405'='405'
      '406'-'410'='410'
   ;
   quit; 

[Reeza]

Yeah, but you can convert it to numeric and convert it back to character, I forgot that part. As long as the rule is as originally indicated it would work fine.
Try this:

PPP_CAT = put(round(input(PPP, 8.) +2.5, 5), 8. -l);

Otherwise data null has provided a character format. Be careful with order though for character, because the order is character based. So 1, 10, 100 is less than 2, 20, 200 in character forms.

[Reeza]

Any chance these are ICD codes?