character variable (containing letter) to numeric variable

[michellel]

Hi,

I have a question about converting character variable to numeric variable in SAS. My data set contains a character variable, which is five (5) digits and each digit may be letter or number. Now I want to convert the variable to numeric (actually only the ones with all five digits work well to be convert to numerical, and also keep others with letter as they are used to be). How to combine this condition with input function or is there any other way to do? Thanks much!

-Michelle

[Astounding]

Converting to numeric requires defining a new variable, but the code is simple:

newvar = input(oldvar, ??5.);

The question marks suppress messages about invalid data that would have been generated when encountering letters.  The new variable will have a missing value for those observations that can't be converted.

Good luck.