I frequently have a similar data situation which I handle by keeping a
string version of the variable (for use as a handle in filtering, e.g.
-keep if inlist(wafer, "510345", "505433"), and an -encode-d version
which I use when constructing graphs, running ANOVAs or similar
functions which only take numeric variables. The strings tend to be
more meaningful to me (I don't have to map the encoded numbers back to
whatever the string was mentally), so the extra dataset size is worth
it.
YMMV
-JW
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Nawar, Eric
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 7:55 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: st: destring, keeping leading zeros
Because I was trying to figure out a way to put labels on this variable
(without creating an additional variable just for the label as was
suggested a few years back for a similar posting about putting labels on
string variables - we both are in a situation where we have thousands of
medical codes where we wanted to put labels...and 123 and 0123 are
different codes).
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Svend Juul
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 10:36 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: st: destring, keeping leading zeros
Eric,
You have a string variable which has the following distinct codes:
"0123"
"123"
You want to make the variable numeric, but keep the leading zero
on the first code to keep them distinct.
You are asking for the impossible, I think: The numeric value of 123 and
0123 is the same. If you want to keep them distinct, why not keeping
them as stings?
Svend
________________________________________________________
Svend Juul
Institut for Folkesundhed, Afdeling for Epidemiologi
(Institute of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology)
Vennelyst Boulevard 6
DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Phone, work: +45 8942 6090
Phone, home: +45 8693 7796
Fax: +45 8613 1580
E-mail: [email protected]
_________________________________________________________
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