Date:         Wed, 24 May 2006 11:17:16 -0400
Reply-To:     Gerhard Hellriegel <ghellrieg@T-ONLINE.DE>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Gerhard Hellriegel <ghellrieg@T-ONLINE.DE>
Subject:      Re: Best. informat in input function?

If you values only have variations like you described, you don't need the
BEST. informat. Also 10. (long enough) would do.
Yes, several problems lurking around the corner, because not all chars are
valid numerics (the other way is easier).
E.g. look at the exotic string:

31   data test;
32     a="11.5d-13";
33     x=input(a,10.);
34     put _all_;
35   run;

a=11.5d-13 x=1.15E-12 _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

Then look at the less exotic string:

46   data test;
47     a="1 13";
48     x=input(a,10.);
49     put _all_;
50   run;

NOTE: Invalid argument to function INPUT at line 48 column 5.
a=1 13 x=. _ERROR_=1 _N_=1
a=1 13 x=. _ERROR_=1 _N_=1

where

71   data test;
72     a="1.e13";
73     x=input(a,10.);
74     put _all_;
75   run;

a=1.e13 x=1E13 _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

is ok!

Some chars are allowed, some not, some only at certain positions or in
certain combinations. E.g. "+" and "-"! Allowed, but only one of them - really?

76   data test;
77     a="-1.e-13";
78     x=input(a,10.);
79     put _all_;
80   run;

a=-1.e-13 x=-1E-13 _ERROR_=0 _N_=1


but

81   data test;
82     a="-1.-13";
83     x=input(a,10.);
84     put _all_;
85   run;

NOTE: Invalid argument to function INPUT at line 83 column 5.
a=-1.-13 x=. _ERROR_=1 _N_=1
a=-1.-13 x=. _ERROR_=1 _N_=1

So you see: you could check, if the string is numeric or not, but it is not
easy!
And the informat, if BEST10. or 10. is not too important, but don't use 10.2:

106  data test;
107    a="11.345";
108    x=input(a,10.2);
109    put _all_;
110    a="11345";
111    x=input(a,10.2);
112    put _all_;
113  run;

a=11.345 x=11.345 _ERROR_=0 _N_=1
a=11345 x=113.45 _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

The first might be what you expected, but the second?











On Wed, 24 May 2006 10:50:10 -0400, David Ryerson <ryersond@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I am trying to convert a character variable to a numeric variable with the
>input function.  The twist is that the values of the character variable
>vary quite a bit in terms of no decimal, one digit after decimal, etc.  I
>have been using the following to do this:
>
>numval=input(charval,best.);
>
>Is the best. informat the way to go here?  To this point it seems to be
>working, but I'm wondering if there are any problems lurking around the
>corner.
>
>Thanks,
>David