convert character variable to numeric

[kumarnaidu]

Hi all if a variable is of character type and having numeric values then how to convert it to numeric.

[Patrick]

Use the input() function with an appropriate informat, eg. Numvar=input(charvar,20.);

[kumarnaidu]

thanks patrick

[Linlin]

data have;

input a$ @@;

cards;

1 2 3

;

data want;

  set have;

  b=input(a,best12.);

run;

proc contents data=want;run;