SAS Proc SQL how to convert from Number to Character

Question

I am very new to SAS.

I want to convert Number to Character.

basically I want to use to_char function

so I try

proc sql;
select put(A.column,$11.) as new_column
from table A
quit;

This causing error,

what is appropriate way to convert Number to Character???

Solution

You're close - you just need a numeric format, eg:

proc sql;
select put(A.column,11.) as new_column
  from table A;

(You also needed a closing semicolon)

See documentation: https://documentation.sas.com/?docsetId=lefunctionsref&docsetTarget=n0mlfb88dkhbmun1x08qbh5xbs7e.htm&docsetVersion=9.4&locale=en

Comments

[Tom]

Character formats (the ones starting the $) are applied to character values. You need to use a numeric format, such as 11. or Z11. if you want for apply it to your numeric values.