Date:         Wed, 8 Dec 1999 08:52:06 -0800
Reply-To:     "Berryhill, Tim" <TWB2@PGE.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Berryhill, Tim" <TWB2@PGE.COM>
Subject:      Re: input function and informat w.d, w. bestw.
Comments: To: "Y.Huang@ORGANONINC.COM" <Y.Huang@ORGANONINC.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain

As I understand it, when SAS applies a w.d format to read a value, an
explicit decimal in the raw data overrides the d value coded.  Thus reading
'168' through 8.3 uses the d value and is interpreted as 0.168, but reading
'168.2' through the same 8.3 format uses the explicit decimal in the data
resulting in the value 168.2.

This may not be good, but it is clear.  As you mentioned in your post, the
solution for your data is to omit the d portion of the informat.

> ----------
> From:         Ya Huang[SMTP:Y.Huang@ORGANONINC.COM]
> Reply To:     Y.Huang@ORGANONINC.COM
> Sent:         Wednesday, December 08, 1999 8:42 AM
> To:   SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject:      Q: input function and informat w.d, w. bestw.
>
> Hello all,
>
>  1          data _null_;
>  2          a1='168';
>  3          a2='168.2';
>  4          b1=input(a1,8.);
>  5          b2=input(a2,8.);
>  6          c1=input(a1,8.3);
>  7          c2=input(a2,8.3);
>  8          d1=input(a1,best8.);
>  9          d2=input(a2,best8.);
>  10         put a1= b1= c1= d1=;
>  11         put a2= b2= c2= d2=;
>  12         run;
>
>  A1=168 B1=168 C1=0.168 D1=168
>  A2=168.2 B2=168.2 C2=168.2 D2=168.2
>
> Above code shows that in converting a character var to a
> numeric var using input function, the informat can not be
> "w.d" if the original char var dose not have a decimal point,
> I can use "w." or "bestw." in this case. I was expecting
> c1=168.000, but as you can see, c1=0.168, totally wrong.
>
> Why is that?
>
> Thanks
>
> Ya Huang
> Organon Inc.
>