How to concatenate FIP state code and FIP county code (both character variable) into one variable

[cashaowan]

I am concatenating two separate character variables into one variable, specifically FIP state and FIP county variables, both character variables. I don't want any space between FIP state and county codes in the new FIPS code created for each county.

Can I use the following codes?

Option 1: using traditional trim function

FIPS length $5.;

FIPS=trim(FIPstate)||trim(FIPcnty); 

Option 2: using cats function

FIPs length $5.;

FIPS=cats(FIPstate,FIPcnty);

If there is no delimit adding to two digits FIPstate and three digits FIPcnty, can I use cat function this way to deliver the desired five-digit format FIPs code variable?

[PaigeMiller]

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@cashaowan wrote:

I am concatenating two separate character variables into one variable, specifically FIP state and FIP county variables, both character variables. I don't want any space between FIP state and county codes in the new FIPS code created for each county.

Can I use the following codes?

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Best way to answer that question is to try it yourself and see what happens. SAS will give you a very quick answer, faster than you can get from this forum, and it will be 100% guaranteed correct (which isn't true if I try to answer SAS questions). You don't need our help here.

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

Do  your county codes have leading zeroes if the numeric value is less than 100? If not then you are creating a malformed FIPS code. 2 character FIPS is state, 5 character is State + County. If the "county" FIP code is 1 and the state code is 16 then the state+county is 16001. If your state is a single digit then it needs to have a leading 0.

If your state and county codes have the leading 0 and they are defined as 2 character and 3 character then any of CAT, CATS or CATT would yield a 5 digit code IF you set the length before assigning. Otherwise the function will default to $200.

data example;
   length Fipstate $ 2 Fipcnty $ 3;
   Fipstate='02';
   Fipcnty ='001';
   length F1 F2 F3 $ 5;
   F1 = cat(fipstate,fipcnty);
   F2 = cats(fipstate,fipcnty);
   F3 = catt(fipstate,fipcnty);

run;
   

If they don't have leading zeroes you have more work to do to make sure they are there.