Both of your codes are an example for overcomplicating things, and how that ends with shooting oneself in the foot. The following leads to the exact same result, with a minimum of effort: data PAY_FILE; input OUTSTANDING_BAL $15.; cards; 000000000120584 000000000005073 000000000008371 000000000001000 000000000081000 000000000009000 ; data PAY_FILE_want; set PAY_FILE; format OUTSTANDING_BAL_num dollar20.2; OUTSTANDING_BAL_num = input(OUTSTANDING_BAL,15.2); run; See the first quote of Maxim 37. ... View more