David Wright-6 wrote: > > I have a numeric variable that I need to have leading zeros on. > However, when I use the N format options it strips the decimal point. > > > Original varaible X ranges from 0 to 99.99 (n8.2). > > examples: > 82.17 > 1.07 > 0 > > Alter type X (n5.2). (produces the following: > 08217 > 00107 > 00000 > > I need to have: > 82.17 > 01.07 > 00000 > > For some reason I'm losing the decimal. What am I doing wrong? I could > change these into strings since I'm uploading into an oracle table with > a nvarchar(5) format but still need the leading zeros. > > Thanks in advance. > > David > >

That is a bit curious. But I get the same thing you do. For the case where X = 0, do you really want the string to be '00000', or should it be '00.00', given that the other cases have two decimals? See below for some possible work-arounds.

data list free / x (f8.2). begin data 82.17 1.07 0 end data. list.

Output: x 82.17 1.07 .00

alter type x(n5.2). list.

Output: x 08217 00107 00000

* As David observes, the decimal is not displayed. * But it is still there -- notice what happens when * we convert back to an F5.2 format.

alter type x(f5.2). list.

Output: x 82.17 1.07 .00

* Compute a copy of X and format it F5.2 .

compute X2 = X. format X2 (f5.2). exe.

* Now convert X2 to string, and then Left-Pad it with 0's .

alter type x2 (a5). COMPUTE x2=CHAR.LPAD(ltrim(x2),5,'0'). list.

Output: x X2 82.17 82.17 1.07 01.07 .00 00.00

if (X EQ 0) X2 = '00000'. /* if 0 really has to be '00000' . list.

Output: x X2 82.17 82.17 1.07 01.07 .00 00000

HTH.

----- -- Bruce Weaver bweaver@lakeheadu.ca http://sites.google.com/a/lakeheadu.ca/bweaver/

"When all else fails, RTFM."

NOTE: My Hotmail account is not monitored regularly. To send me an e-mail, please use the address shown above.

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