Date:         Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:24:14 -0500
Reply-To:     "data _null_," <datanull@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "data _null_," <datanull@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Change all fields within a dataset to char
Comments: To: Satya <kondal4uall@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <7367b4e20807180421i610b799dsf6b4026e4c49e7f4@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

This requires at least one character in the data set to get the
conversion.  If you don't have that. use a view to create a dummy.

data view / view=view;
   set sashelp.class;
   retain dummy ' ';
   run;

Then drop dummy when the opportunity arises.


On 7/18/08, data _null_, <datanull@gmail.com> wrote:
> Best is subjective.
>
> proc transpose data=sashelp.class;
>   var _all_;
>   run;
> proc transpose out=characterClass(drop=_name_);
>   var col:;
>   run;
> proc contents varnum;
>   run;
> proc print;
>   run;
>
> On 7/18/08, Satya <kondal4uall@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I have imported a dataset from a sql database.
> > I now want to change all fields within the dataset to char.
> > What is the best method of doing this.
> >
>