Date:         Fri, 10 Nov 2000 10:31:24 -0500
Reply-To:     David Ward <dward@SASHELP.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         David Ward <dward@SASHELP.COM>
Subject:      Re: SAS Language
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Another solution to add into the mix.  Add '*1' to the end of the character value, then convert '-*' into '*-' so that you have, in effect, a product in your charcter value:
213423*-1
235255*1

Then just multiple the left side of the '*' and the right side.


data _null_;
  length numval 8 charval $8;
  infile cards;
  input charval $8.;
  charval=tranwrd(trim(charval)||'*1','-*','*-');
  numval=scan(charval,1)*scan(charval,2,'*');
  put numval=;
cards;
70248-
45478
21838-
45780-
55454
45015
;
run;

David Ward


>Hi everyone,
>
>I need to import a numeric field into SAS from a flat file that I
>downloaded from mainframe system.  All negative numbers have the minus
>signs in the back of the number instead of in front of the number.  How
>do I read this and convert it into a correct format?
>
>original   Desired
>70248-     -70248
>45478       45478
>21838-     -21838
>45780-     -45780
>55454       55454
>45015       45015
>
>Thank you for your help.
>
>Michelle Kay