Date:         Fri, 20 Oct 2000 19:10:53 GMT
Reply-To:     Paul Dorfman <paul_dorfman@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Paul Dorfman <paul_dorfman@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Suggestions Needed
Comments: To: susemichel_paul@LILLY.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Paul,

First, it is hardly a very good idea to make SAS perform an unnecessary
computation and let it convert implicitly - unless you crave for a SAS log
full of conversion notes. Instead, use the INPUT() function designed for
this purpose:

Num_Var = input (Char_Var, best<length>.);

Instead of <length>, supply the maximum length Char_Var may have. Secondly,
do not confuse a group of identically prefixed variables or variables having
a similar name pattern with arrays. An array can embrace any variables
regardless of their names and/or length, the only rule being that they
should have the same type. Thus, for example, if you have variables A B C
with length 1, 2, 3 respectively, you can still use array processing:

data a; retain a '1' b '12' c '1.2'; run;

data b;
   set a;
   array arc a  b  c ;
   array arn an bn cn;
   do over arc;
      arn = input (arc, best3.);
   end;
run;

If you need to convert *all* character variables to numbers, it may be more
convenient to use the _character_ specification in the array ARC declaration
and sequentially suffixed variable names on the receiving numeric side:

array arc _character_;
array afn  n1-n3;

Kind regards,
=======================
Paul M. Dorfman
Jacksonville, Fl
=======================



>From: Paul Susemichel <susemichel_paul@LILLY.COM>
>Reply-To: Paul Susemichel <susemichel_paul@LILLY.COM>
>To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Subject: Suggestions Needed
>Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 18:24:17 GMT
>
>Not being a proficient SAS programmer, I was hoping for suggestions on the
>best way to code the following problem:
>
>The basic concept of what I need to do is to convert the value of a
>character variable to numeric and assign that value a new variable name.  I
>figured the basic logic would be something like:
>
>   if Char_Var ne . then
>      Num_Var = Char_Var + 0;
>   else
>      Num_Var = .;
>
>Unfortunately, I need to do this for 161 seperate variables -- no arrays or
>patterns -- which makes for a lot of code to do the same thing.  I've tried
>to think of ways that would allow me to do this much more efficiently, but
>have been unsuccessful.
>
>Thanks in advance for any help.
>
>
>Paul

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