Length of character variable created from numeric

[lillymaginta]

I have a numeric variable coded as 0/1

I want to create a character variable that would allow at least 11 characters in the word, can someone guide the best way to code this? 

Thanks,

data have;
input drug;
cards;
0
1  
0;  
Run; 

 I want to create a character variable such as 

if drug1=1 then ch= 'healthinsurance' 

[novinosrin]

Not sure i understand you req, do you mean assigning length for your char?

data have;
input drug;
cards;
0
1
;
Run;

data want;
set have;
length ch $20;
if drug=1 then ch= 'healthinsurance' ;
run;

[Tom]

The same way you would define the length for any variable in your data set. Use the LENGTH statement.

data want ;
  length drug 8 ch $12 ;
  input drug;
  if drug then ch= 'healthinsurance' ;
cards;
0
1
;

[Kurt_Bremser]

Define a format with your translations, and the resulting variable (when the format is used in a put() function) will have the appropriate length.

proc format;
value mytrans
  1 = 'healthinsurance'
  0 = 'other'
;
run;

data want;
input numvar;
charvar = pu(numvar,mytrans.);
cards;
0
1
;
run;

[ballardw]

---

@Kurt_Bremser wrote:

Define a format with your translations, and the resulting variable (when the format is used in a put() function) will have the appropriate length.

proc format;
value mytrans
  1 = 'healthinsurance'
  0 = 'other'
;
run;

data want;
input numvar;
charvar = pu(numvar,mytrans.);
cards;
0
1
;
run;

---

Or just use the FORMAT to display the value without creating another variable.