SAS class R

[ballardw]

Length only lets you set one characteristic, the length. Attrib will let you set other properties like Informat, Format and Label as well as the length.

[andreas_lds]

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@RuthE wrote:

Hi all,

What is the difference between using ATTRIB statement and LENGTH statement when creating a new variable from existing variable?

Ruth 

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Hello Ruth,

not sure what you mean with "creating a new variable from existing variable"?

[lsandell]

The LEGNTH Statement (before the SET) allows you to define the length of some/all of the variables, and will permanently reset the length in your PDV and data set Iif you rearrange the variables in this LENGTH statement, it will also re-order your variables!). If you put the LENGTH statement after the set statement, it will not change the length in the PDV. 

The ATTRIB ("attributes") assigns many items to each variable assigned, such as Format, informat, length, Label, and transcode(Y/N). 

Here are links to helpful SAS documentation: Attrib Statement

Length Statement