title: Converting numeric variables to character in SAS
body: <p>I have two datasets, both with same variable names. In one of the datasets two variables have character format, however in the other dataset all variables are numeric. I use the following code to convert numeric variables to character, but the numbers are changing by 490.6 -> 491.
  How can I do the conversion so that the numbers wouldn't change?</p>
  
  <blockquote>
  <pre><code>data tst ;
  set data (rename=(Day14=Day14_Character Day2=Day2_Character)) ;
  Day14 = put(Day14_Character, 8.) ;
  Day2 = put(Day2_Character, 8.) ;
   drop Day14_Character Day2_Character ;
   run;
  </code></pre>
  </blockquote>