"john mcmaster" <john.mcmaster@centraforce.fra> wrote in message news:psMSb.14386$JL4.118408@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net... > I have a problem that I hope one of you knowledgable souls in here could > please help me with! > > I have a character variable called customer_account_id (length $12.) > values of which typically look as below: > > "000012345678" > "000001234567" > "000000123456" > "000000012345" > > How can i can i get rid of the prevaling zero characters from this variable? > > All replies greatly appreciated. > > Thanks. > > John >

Pretty vague: Do you have a character variable whose value includes double quotes ? Prevaling meaning leading zeroes (leading to those of us in the left to right world) ? Should the prevailing zeroes be removed or translated to spaces ? (if looking the zeroes would have been gotten rid of) Can ids contain embedded zeroes?

data foo; a="000012345678"; b=put(input(a,12.),12.-L); run;

-- Richard A. DeVenezia http://www.devenezia.com/