Kevin,

You can to use the input FUNCTION in order to convert the character variable whose values contain scientific notations. The following code demonstrates:

/* Data you initially presented with country and */ /* population. Population is a character variable. */ data one; length country $ 6 population $ 10; input country population; datalines; USA 1000000 CHINA 1.0016E+07 JAPAN 2.0616E+07 TURKEY 2351522 ;

/* Read population variable using input function and informat e10. */ /* Rename population on set statement so name can be used for */ /* the numeric variable obtained when the input function is invoked */ data two; set one(rename=(population=popchar)); population = input(popchar,e10.); format population 10.; run;

proc print data=two; run;

HTH,

Dale

--- "CHRISTENSEN,KEVIN W" <chriske2@UFL.EDU> wrote: > I tried this suggestion and best10. but I keep getting an error. > Probably something wrong with my code: > > I send: > > data wbdata.pop4; > set wbdata.pop3; > informat _1960 e10.; > run; > > I get back: > > 62 data wbdata.pop4; > 63 set wbdata.pop3; > NOTE: SCL source line. > 64 informat _1960 e10.; > ---- > 48 > ERROR 48-59: The informat $E was not found or could not be > loaded. > > 65 run; > > It appears SAS is reading e10. format (and the best10. format) as > if it should be a character format (given the $). I assume this > is because in the original dataset the population figures are > considered to be character. So now what? > > On Thu May 13 11:48:54 EDT 2004, Harry Droogendyk > <harry.droogendyk@RBC.COM> wrote: > > > See Ew. informat, where w = width. > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: CHRISTENSEN,KEVIN W [mailto:chriske2@UFL.EDU] > > Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 11:42 AM > > To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU > > Subject: Scientific notation > > > > > > I have a SAS dataset that looks like the following: > > > > COUNTRY POPULATION > > USA 1000000 > > CHINA 1.0016E+07 > > JAPAN 2.0616E+07 > > TURKEY 2351522 > > > > The population variable is read in as a character and I'd like to > > read it as a number. Unfortunately the scientific notation in > > some observations will make it difficult (I think). Any ideas > > around this? > > -- > > CHRISTENSEN,KEVIN W > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > This e-mail may be privileged and/or confidential, and the sender > > does not waive any related rights and obligations. Any > > distribution, use or copying of this e-mail or the information it > > contains by other than an intended recipient is unauthorized. If > > you received this e-mail in error, please advise me (by return > > e-mail or otherwise) immediately. > > > > Ce courrier électronique est confidentiel et protégé. > > L'expéditeur ne renonce pas aux droits et obligations qui s'y > > rapportent. Toute diffusion, utilisation ou copie de ce message > > ou des renseignements qu'il contient par une personne autre que > > le (les) destinataire(s) désigné(s) est interdite. Si vous > > recevez ce courrier électronique par erreur, veuillez m'en aviser > > immédiatement, par retour de courrier électronique ou par un > > autre moyen. > > > > ============================================================ > > > > > > > > -- > CHRISTENSEN,KEVIN W

===== --------------------------------------- Dale McLerran Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center mailto: dmclerra@fhcrc.org Ph: (206) 667-2926 Fax: (206) 667-5977 ---------------------------------------

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