Length of a variable which is getting assigned using Scan function

[NikhilKhurana]

Hi,

I was reading Scan function on support site (SAS(R) 9.2 Language Reference: Dictionary, Fourth Edition) . It is written that, In a DATA step, if the SCAN function returns a value to a variable that has not yet been given a length, then that variable is given a length of 200 characters. If you need the SCAN function to assign to a variable a word that is longer than 200 characters, then you should explicitly specify the length of that variable.

But when I am executing the below data steps

data test1;

title = 'Writing as much Macros as possible so that they can be used in other modules as well.';

word=scan(title,1,' ');

run;

data test2;

word=scan('Writing as much Macros as possible so that they can be used in other modules as well.',1,' ');

run;

The length of variable word in both the data sets is 85 .

I just need to understand why is the length not 200 and 85.

[data_null__ · Accepted solution]

You need to look at the documentation for the version of SAS that you are actually using.

In a DATA step, if the SCAN function returns a value to a variable that has not yet been given a length, that variable is given the length of the first argument. If you need the SCAN function to assign to a variable a value that is different from the length of the first argument, use a LENGTH statement for that variable before the statement that uses the SCAN function.

[NikhilKhurana]

My bad, I am using SAS 9.4 but was looking at SAS 9.2 documentation.

Thanks for pointing that out.

[RW9]

"you should explicitly specify the length of that variable"

IMO you should always explicitly state the length of a variable.  Otherwise you may get differing results if the data changes.