topic Re: Can we eliminate the errors in the auto generated code? in SAS Studio

Can we eliminate the errors in the auto generated code?

Tom — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 14:57:59 GMT

Every time I submit code in SAS/Studio I get this annoying note (error) in the log.

 INFO: Character variables have defaulted to a length of 200 at the places given by: (Line):(Column). Truncation can result.
       40:1     RC

I was able to track it down to this data step that SAS/Studio is prefixing to my code.

 37         DATA _NULL_;
 38         CALL SYMPUT("GRAPHINIT","");
 39         CALL SYMPUT("GRAPHTERM","");
 40         RC=TSLVL('SASXGOPT','N');
 41         _ERROR_=0;
 42         IF (RC^=' ') THEN DO;
 43         CALL SYMPUT("GRAPHINIT","GOPTIONS RESET=ALL GSFNAME=_GSFNAME;");
 44         CALL SYMPUT("GRAPHTERM","GOPTIONS NOACCESSIBLE;");
 45         END;
 46         RUN;
 
 INFO: Character variables have defaulted to a length of 200 at the places given by: (Line):(Column). Truncation can result.
       40:1     RC

Can we please fix that so it does not generate that message?

Why is it even making the RC variable? It is not used anywhere.

Just change to generate code like this instead.

DATA _NULL_;
  CALL SYMPUT("GRAPHINIT","");
  CALL SYMPUT("GRAPHTERM","");
  _ERROR_=0;
  IF (TSLVL('SASXGOPT','N')^=' ') THEN DO;
    CALL SYMPUTX("GRAPHINIT","GOPTIONS RESET=ALL GSFNAME=_GSFNAME;");
    CALL SYMPUTX("GRAPHTERM","GOPTIONS NOACCESSIBLE;");
  END;
RUN;

Re: Can we eliminate the errors in the auto generated code?

yabwon — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 16:44:22 GMT

I'm second to that idea

B-)

Re: Can we eliminate the errors in the auto generated code?

alexal — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 13:59:25 GMT

@Tom ,

Did you set MSGLEVEL=i? If yes, that setting generates additional notes in the SAS log.

Re: Can we eliminate the errors in the auto generated code?

Tom — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 14:55:55 GMT

@alexal wrote:

@Tom ,

Did you set MSGLEVEL=i? If yes, that setting generates additional notes in the SAS log.

I have no idea whether I set it or not. Or whether SAS/Studio did either.

But it doesn't change the fact that the code should be fixed. It is just sloppy coding to create character variables without a way for the data step to know what length it should use. Which is why SAS is issuing that line in the log.

Re: Can we eliminate the errors in the auto generated code?

alexal — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 15:06:55 GMT

@Tom ,

Thanks for your response. What version of SAS is it? I need that information to open a feature request.

Re: Can we eliminate the errors in the auto generated code?

Tom — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 23:07:58 GMT

SAS/Studio is 3.71. Not sure the SAS version matters.

Here is the About message.

Release: 3.71 (Enterprise Edition)

Supported browsers:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
Mozilla Firefox 21+
Google Chrome 27+
Apple Safari 6.0+ (on Apple OS X)
Build date: Aug 14, 2019 11:45:53 AM
SAS Mid-tier release: May 24, 2019 9:45:00 AM
Java Version: 1.7.0_151
SAS release: 9.04.01M5P09132017
SAS platform: Linux LIN X64 2.6.32-696.13.2.el6.x86_64