Why does Data Type Changes

[asimraja]

Hi,

I have a dataset, aggr_tmp_1, which has aggr and aggr_raw as "Character". However, when, using the aggr_tmp_1, proc sql creates a new dataset, aggr_tmp_2, both aggr and aggr_raw are "Numeric".

Can anyone provide insight on why this is happening?

Thank you for your help!

Code:

data aggr_tmp_1;
    set aggr_tmp_1;
    by AGGR_INSTRUMENT_ID;
    length attribute $25.;
    attribute = "&var_name.";
    retain diff;
    if first.AGGR_INSTRUMENT_ID then
        diff = 0;
    if (not missing(aggr)) and (aggr ne '0') and (aggr ne aggr_raw) then
        diff = 1;
run;

proc sql noprint;
    create table aggr_tmp_2 as
    select aggr_instrument_id,
        aggr,
        count(aggr_raw) as aggr_raw,
        avg (diff) as diff
    from aggr_tmp_1
    group by aggr_instrument_id, aggr;
quit;

[alex_a · Accepted solution]

You reinitialize aggr_raw with the value of count(aggr_raw) => Numeric result. Try this:

proc sql noprint;
    create table aggr_tmp_2 as
    select aggr_instrument_id, 
        aggr, aggr_raw, 
        count(aggr_raw) as count_aggr_raw,
        avg (diff) as diff
    from aggr_tmp_1
    group by aggr_instrument_id, aggr;
quit;

Regarding aggr, make sure it exists. By default, SAS converts uninitialized variables in numerical vars.

Edit: It does not make too much sense to keep aggr_raw in the query (depending on your needs). So you better exclude it.

[asimraja]

Thank you alex_a!