Changing length of char variable

[LMSSAS]

example of output is above my code: I want the column CHECK_AHIP to allow enough char length for "Ready To Train" to NOT get truncated. I have tried format=$25. in my data step and get the below error. I have also tried Format CHECK_AHIP $25.; but it does not change anything in the output. Can someone suggest a solution please? 

99 format=$25.;
____
386
200
ERROR 386-185: Expecting an arithmetic expression.

ERROR 200-322: The symbol is not recognized and will be ignored.

proc sql;
	create table medicaresalesagencies3 as
		select distinct
			a.agency_name,
			a.aor_code,  
			a.agency_type,
			/*a.'Level 3'n as 'Level 3'n,*/
			/*case 
			when a.'Level 2'n is null then a.aor_code
			else a.'Level 2'n end as 'Level_Down 2'n,*/
			case 
			when a.TOH_agency is null then a.aor_code
			else a.TOH_agency end as 'TOH_AGENCY'n,
            compbl(strip(cat(propcase(a.agents_name)," ",propcase(a.agents_last_name)))) as agent_name,
			a.role,
			a.agent_individual_writing_number,
			a.license,    
			a.agent_npn,
			/*a.agent_email_address,
			a.agent_work_phone_number,*/
			/*a.agent_start_date,
			a.agent_end_date,*/ 
			/*a.agent_address,
			a.agent_address_line_2,
			propcase(a.cty_nm) as cty_nm,*/
			a.usps_stt_cd,
			a.zip_code,
			a.county,
			a.rts_goals_per_county,
			a.broker_managers,
			a.assigned_broker_manager,
			/*a.country_name,
			a.lat_nb,
			a.long_nb,*/ 
			a.cms_pass_fail,
			a.cms_cert_eff_date,
			a.cms_cert_term_date,
			a.course_title,
			a.certification_status,
			b.SITE_LICENSES as AHIP_ON_FILE,
			b.ahip_status,
			case when role = "Agent" and max(year(CMS_CERT_TERM_DATE)) ne 2022 and b.SITE_LICENSES is missing then 'AHIP Needed' /*else 'AHIP OnFile'*/
				end as CHECK_AHIP,
			case when role = "Agent" and max(year(CMS_CERT_TERM_DATE)) eq 2022 and b.SITE_LICENSES is not missing then 'RTS 2022' 
				end as Agents_Status,
			case when role = "Agent" and max(year(CMS_CERT_TERM_DATE)) ne 2022 and b.SITE_LICENSES is not missing then 'Ready To Train' /*else 'Not RTT'*/
				end as TRAIN_INDICATOR
	from medicaresalesagencies2 a
		left join cpm1p1.ahip_dmp b
			on a.agent_npn = b.npn
		where a.aor_code not in ('K001','K003')
		/*and a.role in ('Agent')*/
	group by 
		a.agent_npn
	order by a.aor_code asc;
/*		AHIP_Submission asc;*/
quit;

data medicaresalesagencies3;
set medicaresalesagencies3;
if CHECK_AHIP='' and Agents_Status='' and TRAIN_INDICATOR='' then CHECK_AHIP='';
if CHECK_AHIP='AHIP Needed' and Agents_Status='' and TRAIN_INDICATOR='' then CHECK_AHIP = 'AHIP Needed';
if CHECK_AHIP='' and Agents_Status='RTS 2022' and TRAIN_INDICATOR='' then CHECK_AHIP='RTS 2022';
if CHECK_AHIP='' and Agents_Status='' and TRAIN_INDICATOR='Ready To Train' then CHECK_AHIP = 'Ready To Train';
format CHECK_AHIP $25.;
run;

[maguiremq]

You should use the `length = ` option in a PROC SQL query. Here's an example -- your code is pretty long so I just made a fake example:

proc sql;
	create table 	want as
		select
					*,
					case 	when make = "Toyota" then "It's a Toyota!"
							when make = "Ford" then "Ford!"
							else "What kind of car is this?"
					end as 	test_var length = 25
		from
					sashelp.cars;
quit;

Unless you have a format that's already specified in a PROC FORMAT step.

[LMSSAS]

Thank you for the example!

[PaigeMiller · Accepted solution]

This is not a format issue but a LENGTH issue.

Try this:

case when role = "Agent" and max(year(CMS_CERT_TERM_DATE)) ne 2022 and b.SITE_LICENSES is missing 
then 'AHIP Needed' /*else 'AHIP OnFile'*/ end as CHECK_AHIP length=25

[LMSSAS]

Thank you, Paige!!
length=25 worked!!
I've only been trying to figure this out for 2 hours, grrrrrr

Thanks again!!