converting char variable to num variable

[jonty]

i want to change variable MSRP which is in char format to numeric type but i dont know how to do it.

any help with complete syntex .

my code is :-

data cars1;
set work.cars;
input MSRP 10.;
fmtMSRP=input(MSRP,comma10.);
run;

here the data set was cars where my MSRP is in char format but i wish to convert it into numeric format.

[PaigeMiller]

If MSRP is character then

msrp_numeric=msrp+0;

[Shmuel · Accepted solution]

You can use INPUT either with INFILE or as a function.

To convert the char type to numeric you need a mid name:

data cars1;
  set work.cars(rename=(MSPR=_mspr));  /* <<< added closing ')' */
        mspr = input(_mspr,dolar10.);
        drop _mspr;
        fmtMSRP=input(MSRP,dolar10.);
run;

[jonty]

no this aint working it creating the variables but no data in the variables all ate blank

[Reeza]

Post your code and log. Also, post a proc contents from your INPUT data set.

[jonty]

AS YOU CAN SEE THE DATA TYPE FOR MSRP IS CHAR BUT I WANT IT IN NUMERIC FOR FURTHER CALCULATION AND I WANT SAME VALUES LIKE $25,214 LIKE THIS BUT IN NUMERIC FORMAT...

code :-

data cars1;
set work.cars(rename=(MSRP=_msrp));
msrp = input(_msrp,dollar10.);
run;

THIS IS GIVING ME OUTPUT BUT NOW I WANT IT TO BE IN DOLLAR FORMAT LIKE $25,254 LIKE THIS BUT REEZA I AM SKIPPING SOMETHING 

[Reeza]

APPLY A FORMAT. OTHERWISE THE DEFAULT FORMAT IS BEST OR 8. WHICH HAS NO DOLLAR SIGNS. SO IF YOU WANT DOLLAR SIGNS YOU APPLY THE CORRECT FORMAT WHICH CONTROLS THE DISPLAY. NOTE THAT THE VALUE STORED IS STILL NUMERIC, FORMATS ONLY CONTROL THE DISPLAY OF THE DATA.

[jonty]

I AM SORRY NOT ABLE TO GET IT CAN YOU HELP WITH PROPER SYNTEX
I THICK THAT WILL HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND AND I WANT INPUT STATEMENT TO BE USED

[Reeza]

ALL CAPS is yelling on the internet. DON'T DO IT.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_caps

And I did include the code, the format statement is in my post - add it into your current code. 

You never posted the code/log and proc contents, ergo these circles. 

[Shmuel]

I have edited my posted code. It should work.

[Shmuel]

See last edited code - changing informat and format to dolar10.

[jonty]

this is working fine btw any clue how to simplify it more ????

data cars1;
set work.cars(rename=(MSRP=MSRP1));
MSRP = input(MSRP1,DOLLAR10.);
FORMAT MSRP DOLLAR10.;
DROP MSRP1;
run;

[Reeza]

---

@jonty wrote:
this is working fine btw any clue how to simplify it more ????

---

The best way is to read the data in correctly in the first place, but otherwise this is the simplest way to change the variable type.

[Reeza]

If you can, you should change the correct answer to @Shmuel post, it has the full correct solution.

[jonty]

OK surely if I can I will I dnt even know how community work in sas
I was not able to accept that as a solution so I likes it
May be I dnt know how to do it still I will try