‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’ convert

[zimcom]

Dear community,

I need to merge two datasets with the variable ‘Subject’, but ‘Subject’ variable appear to be different type in each dataset as below:

Column Name	Type	Length	Format	Informat
Subject	Text	8	$8.	$8.

Column Name	Type	Length	Format	Informat
Subject	Num	8	BEST12.	BEST32.

Could someone tell me how I can convert the type ‘Num’ to ‘Text’ or ‘Text’ to ‘Num’, please.

Thank you

[Reeza]

What software are you using? SAS has char and num, not ’text’.

If you’re using SAS PUT() converts a number to character and INPUT() is used to convert a character to a number. SAS doesn’t allow for the variable to change types so you need to Rename it as well.

[zimcom]

I use SAS 9, in the dataset view columns, it dose show as 'Text'.

I have tried to use PUT() converts a number to character and INPUT() to convert a character to a number, and rename the variable after, but the merge is not successful, I am wondering if all the length, format and informat properties should also be the same.  

[Reeza]

---

@zimcom wrote:

I use SAS 9, in the dataset view columns, it dose show as 'Text'.

I have tried to use PUT() converts a number to character and INPUT() to convert a character to a number, and rename the variable after, but the merge is not successful, I am wondering if all the length, format and informat properties should also be the same.  

---

No, PUT()/INPUT()  should work. Post your code and log, you likely have a mistake somewhere.

[Tom]

The best solution is to create the datasets using the right types.

Otherwise it is probably best to convert them both to numbers.  There are no formatting issues with numbers.

The problem with converting the number to text is how do you format the numbers.  Are they integers? Do they have leading zeros? Leading spaces?

[singhsahab · Accepted solution]

Here you can go ...

data have1;
input subject;
datalines;
1
2
3
;
run;

data have2;
input subject $;

datalines;
1
2
3
;
run;

data have3 (drop=subject);
set have2;
subject1=input(subject,8.);
run;

data want;
merge have1(in=a) have3(in=b rename=(subject1=subject));
by subject;
if a and b;
run;

[zimcom]

@singhsahab

@Reeza

@Tom

Thank you all and have a great day!