How to convert a character to a numeric value?

[Andalusia]

I have the following dataset:

data have;
infile datalines truncover;
input type $ quarter phase colors $ creation_date :yymmdd6.;
format creation_date yymmdd6.;
datalines;
K-11 201904 1 blue 20200101
K-11 202001 1 blue 20200101
K-11 202002 2 blue 20200101
K-11 202003 3 blue 20200101
K-11 202004 3 black 20200101
K-11 202101 1 blue 20200101
K-11 202102 2 blue 20200101
K-11 202103 3 blue 20200101
;

I want the column `colors` to be converted to a numeric value so I can use it as a measurement inside a crosstab in SAS Visual Analytics. How can this be done easily?

[PeterClemmensen]

Any numeric value?

[Andalusia]

What do you mean?

[Patrick]

I'm not very experienced with VA reporting but even so I feel you will need to explain a bit more why you can't use color as a categorical variable. Show us a "mock-up" of the report you want to create using your sample data.

Do you just need counts by category "color"? Or what is this about?

[ballardw]

"Blue" does not have an automatic numeric value associated with it. So you would have to provide exactly what number you expect for "blue" or "black" or any other color.

Also perhaps if you describe how the number for "blue" will be used we can give you some pointers.