How to convert numeric variable to character without adding or dropping

[huffa9299]

Hello,

I have a dataset that has variable that is originally a numeric in the sql server I pull it from. I want to change this variable to a character without changing the order of the variables.  I know of the put/drop/rename syntax like this:

data new;
   orig_var = 189;
   new_var = put(orig_var,8.);
   drop orig_var;
   rename new_var = orig_var;

run;

But i am trying to do this without having the variables change order, and the above syntax moves the "new_var" to the end of the dataset.

that dataset looks like this:

company	month	people
A	3	232
B	2	53
C	5	646
D	9	244
E	12	2609

my goal is to have "month" changed to a character value without having to use a RETAIN step afterwards to regain the original order of the variables.

Thank you for any help you could provide.

[ChrisNZ]

Like this?

proc sql;
  create table WANT as 
  select VAR1, VAR2, put(VAR3,8.) as VAR3, VAR4
  from HAVE;
run;

[s_lassen]

You may get away with using the DBSASTYPE option:

data new;
  set dblib.mydata(dbsastype=(orig_var='CHAR(8)'));
run;