Date:         Wed, 12 Jan 2000 14:23:36 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Virgile <virgile@MEDIAONE.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Robert Virgile <virgile@MEDIAONE.NET>
Subject:      Re: the first digit of the number
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

As one poster noted -- can we assume that we're dealing with positive
numbers?

Here's a method (untested):

first = input(put(number, best8.), :1.);

My intention (if this works):  The colon scans the incoming string
looking for a nonblank.  Once it finds a nonblank, the input function
applies the informat, reading the first character.

If the colon won't work inside the input function, you'd have to apply
the left function instead:

input(left(put( etc.

Bob V.