Change length of character variable and remove format and informat

[mady3]

Hello! 

My variable SSN (social security number) has the following attributes:

Obs 1: 485-40-2594

Length: 12

Type: Char

Format: $12.

Informat: $12.

I am trying to create (or modify the current variable) that has the same name and values (SSN) but with a length of $11 and no formats or informats. When using LENGTH statements I end up with a warning in my log about truncating the variable. I do want the variable to sustain the same format of XXX-XX-XXXX.

Thank you!

[andreas_lds]

Something like:

data want;
  set have(rename=(ssn=old_ssn));
  length ssn $ 11;
  drop old_ssn;
  ssn = substr(old_ssn, 1, 11);
run;

[Tom · Accepted solution]

So it sounds like you have this data:

data have;
  attrib SSN length=$12 format=$12. informat=$12. ;
  input ssn;
cards;
485-40-2594
;

And you did something like this:

data want ;
  length SSN $11;
  set have;
  format ssn;
  informat ssn;
run;

To avoid the warning you can just make a new variable instead.  That will also mean you don't need to do anything to remove format or informat (as long you you never attach any format or informat to the new variable).

data want ;
  set have;
  length new $11;
  new=ssn;
  drop ssn;
  rename new=SSN;
run;