Though not mentioned by the OP, a declared LENGTH attribute (ATTRIB or LENGTH statement) "may" affect the SAS NUMERIC variable resolution in a subsequent DATA/PROC step, if the SAS variable is kept.
However, most definitely if an INFORMAT is used on an INPUT statement, there also may be incorrect data interpretation.
Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.
33 data x;
34 length a 4;
35 format a 14.4;
36 input a ;
37 putlog _all_;
38 cards;
a=22212.2222 _ERROR_=0 _N_=1
NOTE: The data set WORK.X has 1 observations and 1 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.01 seconds
cpu time 0.00 seconds
40 run;
41 data _null_;
42 set ;
43 putlog _all_;
44 run;
a=22212.2188 _ERROR_=0 _N_=1
NOTE: There were 1 observations read from the data set WORK.X.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.03 seconds
cpu time 0.00 seconds
Message was edited by: sbb