topic Re: length statement in SAS Programming

length statement

dataMart87 — Wed, 25 May 2016 00:02:51 GMT

Is there a difference between the two LENGTH statements below?

/*1st LENGTH statement*/
length myvar $ 12;

/*2nd LENGTH statement*/
length myvar $12.;

Re: length statement

Astounding — Wed, 25 May 2016 00:41:49 GMT

They both do the same thing. Spacing is flexible in most places in SAS programs, so the space after the dollar sign is optional. However, the LENGTH statement does not require a dot after the length (but the FORMAT statement does). So adding the dot doesn't hurt anything but it makes you appear less knowledgeable ... it announces that you thought the dot was required when it is not.

Re: length statement

dataMart87 — Thu, 26 May 2016 00:09:59 GMT

Thank you.