Date:         Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:34:28 -0500
Reply-To:     Ya Huang <ya.huang@AMYLIN.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Ya Huang <ya.huang@AMYLIN.COM>
Subject:      Re: question about input()
Comments: To: Mark Terjeson <Mterjeson@RUSSELL.COM>

Mark gave a good explanation on why you shouldn't have used input
function for numeric var. But he didn't explain why you get c=missing.
Here is why:

c=input(a, 3.1);
is equivelent to
c=input(put(a,best12.),3.1);
which is the same as
c=input('          1',3.1);
since it is right justified, 3.1 is not enough to get the correct number
what you really need is to left justify first, like
c=input('1         ',3.);
or
c=input(put(a,best12.-l),3.);
or
c=input(put(a,best.),12.);


On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:16:53 -0800, Terjeson, Mark <Mterjeson@RUSSELL.COM>
wrote:

>Hi Mindy,
>
>The INPUT function converts string to numeric.
>The   PUT function converts numeric to string.
>
>e.g.
>
>    myString =   put(expecting_numeric,format)
>    myNumeric= input(expecting_string,informat)
>
>
>in your code
>   c=input(a, 3.1);
>if a is already a numeric and you use input(),
>it is expecting a string argument so the numeric
>'a' variable is converted to string first before
>performing the INPUT() function.
>
>It looks like you already know that 'a' is numeric
>and if you are wanting to convert it to string 'c'
>then use the PUT() function instead.
>
>
>
>
>Hope this is helpful.
>
>
>Mark Terjeson
>Senior Programmer Analyst, IM&R
>Russell Investments
>
>
>Russell Investments
>Global Leaders in Multi-Manager Investing
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: SAS(r) Discussion [mailto:SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Mindy
>Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 2:07 PM
>To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Subject: question about input()
>
>Hey guys,
>
>I have a question about input() ___ maybe related with format/
>informat.
>
>Below is sample code:
>
> data try;
> input a;
> cards;
> 1
> ;
> run;
> data try;
>   set try;
>   c=input(a, 3.1);
> run;
> proc contents; run;
> proc print; run;
>
>And I got note as
>
>20      set try;
>21      c=input(a, 3.1);
>22    run;
>
>NOTE: Numeric values have been converted to character values at the
>places given by: (Line):(Column).
>      21:12
>
>Output of proc contents as
>
>--Alphabetic List of Variables and Attributes-----
>
>                                            #    Variable    Type
>Len    Pos
>
>???????????????????????????????????
>                                            1    a           Num
>8      0
>                                            2    c           Num
>8      8
>
>Output of proc print as
>
>                                                     Obs    a    c
>
>                                                        1     1    .
>
>
>I don't understand why I get the note and missing value of c, which I
>thought it should be 1.0
>
>Many thanks.
>
>MIndy