convert char to numeric and recognize correct informat

[Ronein]

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Hello

I am trying to learn the topic of convert char to numeric.

I know the formula: Numeric=INPUT(char, informat);

My problem is that sometimes it is difficult for me to recognize the in informat.

For example:

convert char value   123,456.78   to   numeric.

I saw that the solution is Numeric=INPUT(char, COMMA12.);

Numeric value returned 123456.78   

My question is why the informat is COMMA12.? 

I see that there are 2 numbers after the point and 6 numbers before the point.

I was sure that the informat should be comma6.2  because there are 6 numbers in left of point and 2 in right of point

For example:

There are 2 records under char variable :   82.04   and 108498.19

I would like to convert these values into numeric

I saw that there are multiple solutions.

Numeric=INPUT(char, COMMA10.2);

Numeric=INPUT(char, COMMA32.);

Numeric=INPUT(char, COMMA15.);

My question is why there are multiple informats that can be used in this case???

Is there not only one correct informat?

I also want to understand please what is the correct informat in this example

Thanks in advance

Joe

[data_null__]

d
specifies the powerof 10 by which to divide the value. If the data contain decimal points,the d value is ignored. This argument is optional. 

[Ronein]

I don't understand. Can you try to explain it again please?
char value 123,456.78 has decimal point.
what should be the informat?
Is it possible that there are multiple informats that can be used in this example?

[Ronein]

Is it possible to use informat BEST32. for any case????
When will we use informat BEST32. ?

[Tom · Accepted solution]

If you use BEST32 as an INformat it is just a alias for the normal 32. informat.

[Tom]

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@Ronein wrote:
I don't understand. Can you try to explain it again please?
char value 123,456.78 has decimal point.
what should be the informat?
Is it possible that there are multiple informats that can be used in this example?

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Only include a number of decimal places on the INFORMAT if you want SAS to imply where the decimal point should be when the string being read does NOT contain one.  So with 32.2 as the INFORMAT the string '1234567' will become the number 12,345.67.  But if the string has a decimal point the number of decimal places listed in the informat is ignored.  So a string like '1234.567' becomes the number 1,234.567

[Tom]

COMMA32 in some ways is the "best" informat. It will ignore commas and dollar signs. But note that means it is happy to convert strings like '12,34,56$78' that a human would consider invalid to the number 12,345,678.

[Ronein]

Thank you.

In char value 108498.19  there are 2 number after decimal point.

What is the correct informat here?

Is it important to see how many number in right side of decimal point?

Can you explain please. I still not understand

[Tom]

You do not have to tell SAS how to recognize the decimal point. Just use a width that is long enough not to ignore the last three characters.