How can I set the label length when including a format in another format?

[andypandy_swe]

Hi!

When trying to include a format in another format I get a note saying:

NOTE: The $FIRSTFORMAT (in)format was specified on the right-hand side of an equal sign, but without a length specification. PROC
FORMAT will assume a default length of at least 40 for the format being generated. If this is an insufficient width, you can
rerun PROC FORMAT with an explicit width for the $FIRSTFORMAT (in)format, or provide a sufficient DEFAULT= option.

The Code looks something like this:

proc format lib=format.userformat;
value $firstformat
'3'='ThisIsAStringThatIsMoreThanFortyCharactersLong'
;
run;

proc format lib=format.userformat;
value $secondformat
'1'='AShortString'
'2'='AlsoAShortString'
other=[$firstformat.]
;
run;

data test;
length value $255.;
format value $secondformat.;
value='1';
output;
value='2';
output;
value='3';
output;
run;

The value '3' is truncated to 40 characters... What am I doing wrong? I've tried putting a  "default=50" after the value -statement (in both formats) but it doesn't seem to be doing anything.

How do I set an "explicit width for the $FIRSTFORMAT (in)format" or "provide a sufficient DEFAULT= option"?

The above code is obviously just an example... In reality the firstformat is created from a file and contains a lot of values, most of whom are longer than the values in secondformat. 

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

Simply set the length in the second format to the length you need. If you want 50 characters use:

proc format lib=format.userformat;
value $secondformat
'1'='AShortString'
'2'='AlsoAShortString'
other=[$firstformat50.]
;
run;

Or show the code where you attempted the default that did not perform as expected.

[andypandy_swe]

I tried your code yesterday and it didn't work... Got the same result. Today it works. Must have had en EG hangup.
Thanks!