Invalid character produces error at export

[Q1983]

 data test;
 last_name = 'stanley jr.';
 run;

 data _null_;
 file "my_file.txt" lrecl=119 TERMSTR=crlf;
 set test;
 put @1 last_name  $26.
 ;run;

The customer receiving the file runs it through an outside program
For some reason it gives an invaild character message. It appears the
period at the end of Jr is causing the invalid character. Is there a
way to truncate the period at the end of the name if it exists  to help avoid the invalid character

[ballardw]

The question might be are there are any periods that you want to keep in that field.

Perhaps:

 data test;
 last_name = 'stanley jr.';
 last_name = compress(last_name,'.','t');
 run;

which will remove all periods in the field.

Data design note: JR, SR, II, III, IV, 'the third'  and such are not really part of a last name field and perhaps should be in a separate field.