topic Re: Creating new variable... in New SAS User

SAS class R

RuthE — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:37:32 GMT

Re: Creating new variable...

ballardw — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 18:00:32 GMT

Length only lets you set one characteristic, the length. Attrib will let you set other properties like Informat, Format and Label as well as the length.

Re: Creating new variable...

andreas_lds — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 14:48:31 GMT

@RuthE wrote:

Hi all,

What is the difference between using ATTRIB statement and LENGTH statement when creating a new variable from existing variable?

Ruth

Hello Ruth,

not sure what you mean with "creating a new variable from existing variable"?

Re: Creating new variable...

lsandell — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:44:11 GMT

The LEGNTH Statement (before the SET) allows you to define the length of some/all of the variables, and will permanently reset the length in your PDV and data set Iif you rearrange the variables in this LENGTH statement, it will also re-order your variables!). If you put the LENGTH statement after the set statement, it will not change the length in the PDV.

The ATTRIB ("attributes") assigns many items to each variable assigned, such as Format, informat, length, Label, and transcode(Y/N).

Here are links to helpful SAS documentation: Attrib Statement

Length Statement