topic Data step Length in SAS Programming

Data step Length

Danglytics — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:46:13 GMT

Hi,

I think this is a simple solution, but I can't seem to figure it out.

I have multiple datasets in the exact same data layout that i'd like to concatenate using the data step.

for example:

data merged ;

set table1 table2 table3 table4 ;

run ;

A variable may have different lengths in each of the tables so when I run the code above I get the warning:

"Multiple lengths were specified for the variable Product by input data set(s). This may cause truncation of data."

I tried adding the length statement but still got the warning.

How can I set the length so I do not get the warning?

Thanks for your help.

Data step Length

art297 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:03:07 GMT

I can't test this at the moment, but do you still get the error if the place the length statement(s) before the set statement?

Data step Length

Danglytics — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:10:07 GMT

yes the warning still shows up if do:

data merged ;

length product $15 ;

set table1 table2 table3 table4 ;

run ;

Data step Length

art297 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:23:39 GMT

How about if, in your set statement, you put the file with the longest lengths first (leftmost) on the list?

Data step Length

data_null__ — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:37:40 GMT

My limited testing shows that if you still have the warning it means that one or more of the varables from the input data sets have a length longer than you have defined. You could use PROC CONTENTS and PROC SUMMARY to determine the MAX length of each variable and code gen LENGTH/ATTRIB statements to resolve the issue.

Data step Length

Danglytics — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:28:29 GMT

Is their a way to force the length for the new dataset?

for example:

table1: Product $15

table2: Product $15

table3: Product $17

table4: Product $15

for some reason i have some dirty records in table3 that makes the product variable $17, In my merged dataset I want to make product $15, and its fine if its truncated.

Data step Length

art297 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:37:37 GMT

You are doing that with the length statement or by ensuring that the culprit is not the first file. Or are you asking how to do it without having to confront the warnings?

Data step Length

Danglytics — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:25:19 GMT

yes exactly, is there a way around the warning?

Data step Length

art297 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:29:05 GMT

options varlenchk=nowarn;

Data step Length

Danglytics — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:46:19 GMT

Great thanks for your help.