char or numeric var after apply format in put

[Ronein]

Hello

X_char is a char var.

I run following code and expext that resulted VAR (W) be char with values-1,2,3,4

My question- Why VAR W is numeric???

proc format ;
value $F1_High_Risk_ithalv
'High_50-100%-Med_0-50%-Low_0-50%',
'High_50-100%-Low_0-50%',
'High_100%',
'High_50-100%-Med_0-50%',
'High_0-50%-Med_50-100%-Low_0-50%',
'High_0-50%-Med_50-100%',
'Med_50-100%-Low_0-50%',
'Med_100%'
=1

'High_0-50%-Med_0-50%-Low_50-100%',
'Med_0-50%-Low_50-100%',
'High_0-50%-Low_50-100%'
=2

'High_0-50%-Med_0-50%-Low_0-50%',
'ithalv=0'
=3

'Low_100%'
=4
;
Run;

W=put(compress(X_CHAR),$F1_High_Risk_ithalv.);

[Ksharp]

You need put QUOTE around 1,2,3 . Like:
= '1'
....
='2'

[yabwon · Accepted solution]

It's not numeric!

data test;
x_char='High_50-100%-Med_0-50%-Low_0-50%';
W=put(compress(X_CHAR),$F1_High_Risk_ithalv.);
run;
proc contents;
run;

SAS just let's you to be a "lazy typer".

Even though you provide values 1,2,3 without quotes, since you are defining character format, the values 1,2,3, are interpreted as they were "1", "2", "3".

Of course for better readability adding "" would be good idea.

Bart

[Tom]

Because FORMATs convert VALUES into TEXT.  The result of using PUT() is ALWAYS going to be character.

If you want to create a numeric value you need to use an INFORMAT with the INPUT() function.  INFORMATs convert TEXT into VALUES.  

proc format ;
invalue F1_High_Risk_ithalv 
 'High_50-100%-Med_0-50%-Low_0-50%'
,'High_50-100%-Low_0-50%'
,'High_100%'
,'High_50-100%-Med_0-50%'
,'High_0-50%-Med_50-100%-Low_0-50%'
,'High_0-50%-Med_50-100%'
,'Med_50-100%-Low_0-50%'
,'Med_100%'
=1

 'High_0-50%-Med_0-50%-Low_50-100%'
,'Med_0-50%-Low_50-100%'
,'High_0-50%-Low_50-100%'
=2

 'High_0-50%-Med_0-50%-Low_0-50%'
,'ithalv=0'
=3

'Low_100%'
=4
;
run;

data test ;
  input x_char $80.;
  W=input(compress(X_CHAR),F1_High_Risk_ithalv.);
cards;
Low_100%
Med_100%
High_0-50%-Low_50-100%
ithalv=0
;;;;

proc print;
run;