Right, I skipped the answer to the first part of the question.  Fortunately there is a very simple solution. Use the vtype function to test if CNT_&STATE is charater or numeric. vtype(cnt_&state); Returns 'N' if it is numeric and 'C' if it is character.   ... View more

If you use var_nm = input(c_num,??8.); it will put a number when it is numeric and . when it is not.  Here is an example. DATA test; input c_num $; datalines; 123 12.34 12.34.5 12a4 12)1 23 1 -43 -.5 ; run; data test1 ;   set test ;   ck_num = input(c_num,??8.) ; run ; This gives the following log and proc print; output. NOTE: There were 8 observations read from the data set WORK.TEST. NOTE: The data set WORK.TEST1 has 8 observations and 2 variables. NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):       real time           0.01 seconds       cpu time            0.01 seconds The SAS System         13:59 Monday, April 16, 2012   1                                    Obs    c_num       ck_num                                     1     123         123.00                                     2     12.34        12.34                                     3     12.34.5        .                                     4     12a4           .                                     5     12)1           .                                     6     23           23.00                                     7     -43         -43.00                                     8     -.5          -0.50 ... View more