topic Multiple Length Specified for a Varible in New SAS User

Multiple Length Specified for a Varible

walkerel — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 03:04:30 GMT

I am running this code and it keeps warning me that the variable StateCd has multiple lengths specified. The variable must be named StateCd, so how can I fix this? I have attached my code below.

Thank you

DATA HypTabs.States (LABEL = 'Study States');
ATTRIB StateNum LABEL = 'State Number' LENGTH = 8
StateCd LABEL = 'State Code' LENGTH = $2
StateNm LABEL = 'State Name' LENGTH = $20;
SET HypImpt.States;
BY StateNum;
RUN;

PROC CONTENTS DATA = HypTabs.States VARNUM;
RUN;
PROC PRINT DATA = HypTabs.States;
RUN;

Re: Multiple Length Specified for a Varible

Patrick — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 03:17:11 GMT

You define a length for StateCD but this variable already exists in your source data set with a different length.

If you really want to change the length then you will have to create a new variable with the same name.

data ds1;
  length stateCd $4;
  stateCd='ABCD';
  output;
  stop;
run;

data ds2;
  length stateCD $2;
  set ds1(rename=(stateCD=_stateCD));
  stateCD=_stateCD;
  drop _stateCD;
run;

Be aware that like in the code above if the new variable has a shorter length than the string from your source variable, the string might get truncated.

Re: Multiple Length Specified for a Varible

Astounding — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 03:29:08 GMT

Before changing anything, examine StateCd in your original data. Verify that all.the values are no more than 2 characters long.

If that's the case, it is OK to run your program and ignore the warning.

Re: Multiple Length Specified for a Varible

walkerel — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 03:57:43 GMT

Thank you for the help! I got the problem solved!

Re: Multiple Length Specified for a Varible

Ksharp — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 12:14:21 GMT

Try option :

options varlenchk=nowarn ;