Date:         Tue, 7 Jan 1997 00:33:25 -0500
Reply-To:     unix <chenxi@UTKUX.UTCC.UTK.EDU>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         unix <chenxi@UTKUX.UTCC.UTK.EDU>
Subject:      Re: data set problem
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Tim:
 
There is a way you can read in the data.  At first, read
everything as chracter string, use substr or scan to detect
if num1/num2 contains (), if there is, use length and
substr to get rid of them, then times 1 to convert them into
numerical.  Hope it helps.
 
Chen Xi, Ph.D
PharmClint Co.
 
==========================================
 
Hi SAS users,
 
      I use 'comma' format to read a variable which is at the
      end of a record. The data set is saved as a space delimited
      text file from Excel. This file is like:
.........+.........+.........+.........+
Mary   646 Green St.   50.01    556.44
John   8766 Gray Av.   (56.3)    75.98
Jack   12 Marion Rd.    6.77    (45.62)
 
...
*********
If I use the following format, (45.62) can not be read in, that is,
the value is missing.
 
@1  name    $4
@8  address $13
@21 num1    comma9.2
@30 num2    comma9.2;
 
*********
If I use comma10.2 instead, both 556.44 and 75.98 cannot be read in.
 
 
Any idea?
 
Thanks!
 
Tim