Minitab Macro-Command 'NUMERIC' to convert a text column to an numeric column

[Makiaveli]

Hi,

does anybody know, how I use the command 'NUMERIC' in order
to convert a text column to an numeric column? The Problem is, that my decimal seperator is ",".

When I type 'NUMERIC C1 C2' in my session window the output is as I want it but when I use it in a macro the output is as below:

C1-T ---> C2 (after Macro) ---> C2 (session window)
17,81 _________*______________________17,81
18____________18_____________________ 18

So how can I adjust the NUMERIC-Command, that the "," will be taken as the decimal seperator in the macro?
NOTE: It's not possible just to change the regional settings, because other programms can not handle it.

Hope you can help me.
Thanx

 

[Makiaveli]

Has no one an idea?
Does anyone know how I replace all "," in a Text Column with an ".", so that for example 17,81 will be 17.81? That would solve my problem too.

Thx

 

[Miner]

Has no one an idea?
Does anyone know how I replace all "," in a Text Column with an ".", so that for example 17,81 will be 17.81? That would solve my problem too.

Thx

There are only one or two covers with detailed experience in Minitab macros. It may take a while to get a response as they do not not check in daily.

 

[sparky58]

Has no one an idea?
Does anyone know how I replace all "," in a Text Column with an ".", so that for example 17,81 will be 17.81? That would solve my problem too.

Thx

You could use the search and replace to change , to . (Looks like binoculars in the tool bar)

Otherwise use "manip" > "change data type" >

this can appear a little hit and miss until you get used to it. Often it's easier to paste into excel, change things then re-paste back into minitab.

 

[Tim Folkerts]

Look in

Tools > Options > Individual Commands > Open > Text Files
Decimal Separator

You can select comma, period, or regional default.

 

[Allattar]

If your decimal seperator is , but your regional settings so your seperator is .
Then it will open the data as text rather than numeric.

If you open the worksheet as indicated you can use options to change the decimal seperator on opening.

If you expect to be using , as the decimal seperator, like most European countries, then you can always check your regional settings to see what they are on your computer. These settings can always cause headaches if something isnt as expected.

Otherwise the easy options are to do the find and replace, the binoculars or in editor and replace as mentioned above and then change data type.

 

[Makiaveli]

firts of all thx for your replies!
Off course I can use the search and replace function manually each time but I want to use it as a macro for many datas and and I think such a funcion doesn't exist as a macro-command.

Unfortunately the change in the options to "," as decimal seperator does'nt work. It seems that the the macro-comand (not the session-comand) "NUMERIC" definetly want "." as a decimal seperator no matter whether you change the settings in Minitab to "," as decimal seperator.

For the moment I change my regional setting to "." as decimal seperator each time I use my macro.

As I said the problem occures only when I use NUMERIC in a macro. When using NUMERIC in the session-window, the comand looks up what my regional settings are and acts as I want.

 

[Allattar]

Have you tried this as an Exec not a macro.

Execs are basically much simpler macro's without the headers, this may get round that problem.

 

[Makiaveli]

Have you tried this as an Exec not a macro.

Execs are basically much simpler macro's without the headers, this may get round that problem.

That's right, a exec would work. However I read that Execs will be abolished in next versions.

I think the easiest way for me is to change the regional settings every time.