PROC SUMMARY TROUBLES

[Schaf]

Hello.

I am having some trouble with a Proc Summary that I am hoping to get some help on.

Here is what I am trying to run:

     PROC SUMMARY DATA=ONHAND;

          BY STKCD;

          VAR ONHAND;

          OUTPUT OUT = SUM_ONHAND

               SUM=;

     RUN;

However my ONHAND column from ONHAND is listed as a character because when this was imported from a .txt file when the ONHAND count is negative they have a minus sign and the number in between a lot of spaces. (ie. -                4), So I compressed it to take away the spaces but now when I run the PROC SUMMARY I get the following message:

              ERROR: Variable ONHAND in list does not match type prescribed for this list.

I appreciate any help that can be given.

Thanks!

[Tom]

You need to create a numeric variable.

data fixed_onhand;

   set onhand (rename=(onhand = char_onhand));

   onhand = input(char_onhand,best.);

run;

[Schaf]

thanks for the help