topic Re: ERROR: PUT function reported 'ERROR: Invalid value for width specified - width out of range' whi in SAS Programming

ERROR: PUT function reported 'ERROR: Invalid value for width specified - width out of range' while p

qinghe — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 02:10:24 GMT

Hi,

I want to know how to solve the error " Invalid value for width specified" in the following program:

data A;
input record_id name $ mark;
cards;
1100111 A 99
1100112 B 78
2100111 C 60
2100100 D 78
2100112 E 91
3100111 F 40
3011112 G 36
;

data B (rename=(record_id=start));
retain fmtname "select" label "A";
set test;
where mod(record_id,10) in (0, 1);
run;

proc format cntlin=B;
run;

proc sql;
create table A_selected as
select * from test
where put(record_id, select.)="A";
quit;

I can get the correct output, but with error messages.

Thank you in advance.

Qinghe

Re: ERROR: PUT function reported 'ERROR: Invalid value for width specified - width out of range' whi

qinghe — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 02:52:59 GMT

Hi,

I am sorry that there is a typo in the program:

"select * from test" should be "select * from A"

Regards,

Qinghe

Re: ERROR: PUT function reported 'ERROR: Invalid value for width specified - width out of range' whi

FreelanceReinh — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 07:39:40 GMT

Hello @qinghe,

To avoid the error message, specify a sufficient default length (such as 7 characters if this is the maximum number of digits in the RECORD_ID values) for your format:

retain fmtname "select" label "A" default 7;

Without this specification the default length is 1, which is insufficient to write the RECORD_IDs which are not classified as "A", hence the error message.

Re: ERROR: PUT function reported 'ERROR: Invalid value for width specified - width out of range' whi

qinghe — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 22:52:30 GMT

Thanks a lot. It's very helpful!