Changing data types and lengths in a proc sql select statement?

[Datino]

Say, I have a source table with coumns of various data types and I want to create a second table by selecting some of those columns and changing their data types or lengths.

For example,

• if I have a char column that has sotred numbers, how do I convert it to numeric so I can do calculations at a later date?
• How do I expand the length of a char variable, say from char (8) to char (32) so I can concatenate more data later?

Thanks in advance.

[PGStats · Accepted solution]

proc sql;
create table myNewData as
select
	input(numberStr, best.) as myNumber,
	shortStr as longStr length=32
from myData;
quit;

[rogerjdeangelis]

Just a slight comment

You can use the same name

 input(mynumber,5.) as mynumber length=4.

[Datino]

Thanks, figured as much.

[Datino]

Thank you.