Adding leading zeros to numeric,alphanumeric and character variables

[sayanapex06]

Hi All,

This is an urgent requirement that I need to fulfil, would highly appreciate it if you help on this.

Question :

I have data like :

data test;
    length A $ 4 ;
    infile datalines;
    input A;
    A = put(input(A,best4.),z4.);
datalines;81
1034
91
A46
6HJ
AAAAAA
F39000
DSUG08
CSDF85
000000;
run;

I want the output like :

000081

001034

000091

000A46

0006HJ

AAAAAA

F39000

DSUG08

CSDF85

000000

which is basically I need to add leaing 'zeros' if length is less than 6 but for all 6 length characters I need the same output unaltered. The desired output is given above

I need a particular format for doing this.

I dont need a temporary fix on this

I need a permanent solution as to whatever value comes for the field 'A' I get the output like stated above.

Codes I tried :

A = put(input(A,best4.),z4.);   ------- case 1
and
A = cats(repeat('0',6-length(A)-1), x); ------- case 2

case1 :

Only the numeric records are getting populated with leading zeros and for rest it is coming as 0

case2 :

I am getting the desired output as stated above but for some cases I am getting error like :

'Function CATS unknown or cannot be accessed.'

 Please provide me with a better format for doing this.

[Reeza]

Is your data exactly as posted in the data step? You have 81 right after the datalines statement.

The last record is longer than 6 characters so it has to get separated?

How do you know the rules for separation, assume 6 characters per variable?

What happens if the last variable is short when splitting it up, ie last set is only 3 chars?

You have a mix of character/numeric so INPUT and Z6 format won't work. 

And if you need a length of 6 why are you using 4 in the code?

[sayanapex06]

Hi reeza

Input:

91

81

aaaaaa

bbbbbb

cfg014

456asd

4kj

gh4

0

output :

000091

000081

aaaaaa

bbbbbb

cfg014

456asd

0004kj

000gh4

000000

I have tried both :

padded = put(input(charvar,best6.),z6.);

 and

xx = cats(repeat('0',6-length(x)-1), x); 

cats somewhere is fine and somewhere is giving the error :

"unknown func CATS and cannot be accessed" but with CATS i am getting the desired output

With the first thing only numeric values are getting populated with eading zeros rest are being changed to 0

Please give me a better format or an alternative for CATS/X/T/Q

[Reeza]

This works:

data test;
    length A $6. ;
    infile datalines;
    input A $;
    b = catt(repeat('0',6-length(a)-1),a);
datalines;
81
91
81
aaaaaa
bbbbbb
cfg014
456asd
4kj
gh4
0
;
run;

proc print data=test;
run;

If you want to build yourself a custom function see the answer to this similar question here:

https://communities.sas.com/t5/Base-SAS-Programming/SAS-Formats-Is-it-possible-to-create-a-format-to...

[sayanapex06]

error :Function CATT unknown and cannot be accessed. 

[Reeza]

What version of SAS are you using? 

Post your code and log.

[Reeza]

This works for sure, no errors in my log. 

if length(a) = 6 then b=a;
else b=catt(repeat('0', 6-length(a)-1, a);

[sayanapex06]

Why am I getting :

FUNCTION CATT unknown or cannot be accessed error.

What are the reasons please tell me.

[Reeza]

What version of SAS are you using? 

Post your code and log.

[sayanapex06]

I am using SAS in zOS i.e in mainframe.

When I am trying the syntax :

xx = cats(repeat('0',6-length(x)-1), x);

It works fine when I am reading from datalines and giving any random inputs. It is working perfectly fine without any errors.

But when I am reading a ~ delimitted file and there is a field which is of $6. And when I am trying to conver that field to 

xx = cats(repeat('0',6-length(x)-1), x);

I get the error :

FUCNTION CATS not found or cannot be accessed.

But when I am reading from datalines I am not getting the error..

[Reeza]

1. Either you have an error before that's causing the issue with the function

2. Your SAS version is old and doesn't support the CATT functions.

3. It's not available in Z/OS for some reason - seems unlikely but possible. 

4. It's not available via pass through if you're using that

5. You're not using SAS but using a different system (WPS) that doesn't support it

6. Something else that you're likely not conveying in the question here. 

Roll a dice I guess. 

[sayanapex06]

can you explain point 4

[Tom]

If you can't use CATT() function then use something else.

You could use the SUBSTRN() function.

Or you could use REVERSE(), TRIM() and SUBSTR().

Or make up your own.

data x;
  input a $6. ;
cards;
123
abcdef
;

data want ;
 set x;
 b=substrn('000000',1,6-length(a))||a;
 c=reverse(substr(reverse(trim(a))||'000000',1,6));
 put (_all_) (=$quote.);
run;

[sayanapex06]

Hi tom,

could you show me the output of the program

[Reeza]

Output from @Tom's code:

64
65 data want ;
66 set x;
67 b=substrn('000000',1,6-length(a))||a;
68 c=reverse(substr(reverse(trim(a))||'000000',1,6));
69 put (_all_) (=$quote.);
70 run;
 
a="123" b="000123" c="000123"
a="abcdef" b="abcdef" c="abcdef"