Issue related to storing large numbers into macro variables

[nketata]

The values stored in the macro variables are not equal to the values retreived later in proc print.

How to correct this ?

data file1;

A=4642098790; output;

A=4642899777; output;

A=895511899777; output;

run;

PROC SQL NOPRINT;

SELECT DISTINCT A

INTO :junkvar1 - :junkvar3

FROM file1;

QUIT;

data junk;

A=&junkvar1;

B=&junkvar2;

C=&junkvar3;

run;

proc print; run;

[JoshB · Accepted solution]

This is a loss of precision caused by numeric to string conversion formatting. If you use a put statement to view your macro variables created in the PROC SQL you will see.

%put &junkvar1 &junkvar2 &junkvar3;

4.6421E9 4.6429E9 8.955E11

You can change the format on the variable creation to save the full number string, i.e.

PROC SQL NOPRINT;
SELECT DISTINCT A format=32.
INTO :junkvar1 - :junkvar3
FROM file1;
QUIT;