PROC summary with preloadfmt option truncates char variables

[PavelD]

hello 

code: 

data data_in;
    length Name $10;
    /* without the line above, Name has length 8 */

    set sashelp.class;
    /* Name has length 10 - as expected */

run;


proc format ;
    value $Name (multilabel)
    "Alfred" = "Alfred"
    "Alice" = "Alice"
    "Alice" = "Aggr"
    "Alfred" = "Aggr"
    other = "other"
    
;
run;

proc summary nway data = data_in completetypes;
	class Name / preloadfmt mlf;
	var Weight;

    format Name $Name.;
	
	output  out = data_out  ( DROP = _TYPE_ _FREQ_)   sum =  ;
    /* in data_out, Name has length 6, and NOT 10 ! */
run;

in data_in, Name has length 10. In data_out, Name has length 6. 

Is there a way to force proc summary to MAINTAIN the length of the class variable? 

thx

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

Create the format with a default length of 10.

DEFAULT= option 

[PavelD]

Fantastic, thanks Kurt. I missed that option.