Converting numeric to character

[Dhana18]

I am trying to convert a numeric variable eg 123654 to character. i used this code 

data CDCDATA.Finaldata_CDC_ptid;
set CDCDATA.Finaldata_CDC;
patientid = put(cl_patientid,8.);
run;

th slog says;

/*Reformating numeric Patient ID to Character format*/
data CDCDATA.Finaldata_CDC_ptid;
set CDCDATA.Finaldata_CDC;
patientid = put(cl_patientid,8.);
run;

the variable did not change to character.  What is wrong with my code?

[novinosrin]

can you post your log for the program

[ballardw]

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@Dhana18 wrote:

I am trying to convert a numeric variable eg 123654 to character. i used this code 

data CDCDATA.Finaldata_CDC_ptid;
set CDCDATA.Finaldata_CDC;
patientid = put(cl_patientid,8.);
run;

th slog says;

/*Reformating numeric Patient ID to Character format*/
data CDCDATA.Finaldata_CDC_ptid;
set CDCDATA.Finaldata_CDC;
patientid = put(cl_patientid,8.);
run;

the variable did not change to character.  What is wrong with my code?

---

Did you already have a variable patiend9d in the dataset? If so you cannot change the TYPE once it is created. You likely have a note like this:

NOTE: Character values have been converted to numeric values at the places given by:
      (Line):(Column).

That means you attempted to assign a character value (the put) into a numeric variable and was converted so that the existing numeric variable could hold the new value, assuming it would convert.

Question: Why the concern over it being character or numeric?

[Dhana18]

I did not get any note.

[ballardw]

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@Dhana18 wrote:
I did not get any note.

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So, how do you know it did not "change to character"?

Show use your log from running your code. Copy from the log and paste into a code box opened using the forum's {I} icon. Include all the notes at the end of the data step.