Transforming Data with SAS Functions
Converting Data with Functions

Now let's use the INPUT function to convert the character values of PayRate to numeric. You begin the function by specifying PayRate as the source. Because PayRate has a length of 2, you choose the numeric informat 2. to read the values of the variable. input(payrate,2.) Finally, you add the function to the assignment statement in your DATA step. data hrd.newtemp; set hrd.temp; Salary=input(payrate,2.)*hours; run; After the DATA step is executed, the new data set (which contains the variable Salary) is created.

SAS Data Set Hrd.Newtemp

City	State	Zip	Phone	BeginDate	EndDate	PayRate	Days	Hours	BirthDate	Salary
CARY	NC	27513	6224549	14567	14621	10	11	88	7054	880
CARY	NC	27513	6223251	14524	14565	8	25	200	5757	1600

Notice that no conversion messages appear in the SAS log when using the INPUT function.

SAS Log

13 data hrd.newtemp; 14 set hrd.temp; 15 Salary=input(payrate,2.)*hours; 16 run; NOTE: The data set Hrd.Newtemp has 40 observations and 19 variables. NOTE: The DATA statement used 0.55 seconds.

The form of the INPUT function is very similar to the form of the PUT function (which completes numeric-to-character conversions). INPUT(source,informat) PUT(source,format) However, note that the INPUT function requires an informat, whereas the PUT function requires a format. To remember which function requires a format versus an informat, note that the INPUT function requires the informat.