FW: Converting Mixed String-Numeric Variables

[ViAnn Beadle]

I'm forwarding this to the list.

Here's a simple solution:

STRING newvar a2.
COMPUTE newvar = SUBSTR(oldvar,1,2).

This returns GG.
-----Original Message-----
From: Krinsky, Alan [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 8:13 AM
To: ViAnn Beadle
Subject: RE: Converting Mixed String-Numeric Variables

Old: GG4586712
New: GG
Alternate new: Gold


Alan D. Krinsky  PhD, MPH
Manager, Medical Management Interventions
UMass Memorial Health Care
Hahnemann Campus
281 Lincoln St.
Worcester, MA 01605
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [hidden email]

-----Original Message-----
From: ViAnn Beadle [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 10:04 AM
To: Krinsky, Alan; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: Converting Mixed String-Numeric Variables

Provide an example of your existing variable(s) and your desired new
variable.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Krinsky, Alan
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 7:36 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Converting Mixed String-Numeric Variables

I am having difficulty transforming or computing a new variable for
identification variables starting with 2 letters followed by several
numbers. I would prefer to keep the two letters for identification and
drop all of the numbers to the right of these, but every approach I try
seems to get blocked. If I use a command that treats the original
variable as a string, the error message suggests a numeric variable or
argument is missing, and if I treat the original variable as numeric
there is an error message in search of a string variable. So, I cannot
get something as simple as LTrim or RTrim to work. I tried first
converting the original variable into string or numeric (according to
the variable definitions, it is a string), but I am getting similar
error messages. Any ideas?


Alan D. Krinsky  PhD, MPH
Worcester, MA




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