%* Q&D macro aRecodeN "converts" character variables into numerical ones while;
%* preserving attributes. aRecodeN vs. 0.1.1a (C) Jim Groeneveld, Netherlands ;

%* History:;
%* NULLvs   4dec2001   initial version;
%* 0.1.0   15Jun2005   corrected problem with more variables while looping;
%* 0.1.1a  23Sep2005   added support for leading spaces in existing values;
%*                     fixed bug with existing values with lengths above 5;
%* 0.1.1b   4Oct2005   fixed errors with arguments with embedded spaces;