DBMS/COPY FAQ

Why do some of the numeric variables became character variables when I convert a spreadsheet into SAS, SPSS, Minitab, etc.?

A spreadsheet can have numeric values and character values in one column, a variable in a statics software is either numeric or character type. So, when converting a spreadsheet DBMS/COPY has to assign the variable type of a data column.
If there is just one character in a column, like a blank in a cell you wanted to mark as empty, DBMS/COPY assignes the variable resulting from this column the type Character.

To avoid this problem, make sure that you only type numbers in a column of a numeric variable. Don't type anything in cells with missing values, just skip them.
If you work with a big spreadsheet, it is hard to figure out, which cell causes the type Character in your variable.

To convert the variable type:

SAS

     DATA new;
       SET old;
       VAR_NUM=0;
       VAR_NUM=VAR_CHAR;
     RUN:

SPSS for Windows

Select Transform > Compute Variable
As Target Variable define a new variable. in Numeric Expression write NUMBER(VAR_CHAR,f8)

©2007 Yale University Social Science Statistical Laboratory Certifying Authority: Themba Flowers lm: Wed Apr 09 15:45:19 EDT 2003