Problem with string display/comparison after changing length

[franriv]

This code works correctly:

data master_retail2;
	retain dbs IFRS9Classification;
	length IFRS9Classification2 $18;

	set master_retail;
	if IFRS9Classification='Other Out of' then
		IFRS9Classification2='Other Out of Scope';
	else if IFRS9Classification='Operating lea' then
		IFRS9Classification2='Operating lease';
	else if IFRS9Classification='Loan wholesal' then
		IFRS9Classification2='Loan wholesale';
run; 

But I don't want to create a IFRS9Classification2 variable so I tried this instead:

data master_retail2;
	retain dbs IFRS9Classification;
	length IFRS9Classification $18;

	set master_retail;
	if IFRS9Classification='Other Out of' then
		IFRS9Classification='Other Out of Scope';
	else if IFRS9Classification='Operating lea' then
		IFRS9Classification='Operating lease';
	else if IFRS9Classification='Loan wholesal' then
		IFRS9Classification='Loan wholesale';
run;

This happens. Values in field don't appear to have changed but can now be filtered using the updated values directly in the "where" dynamic filter in SAS EG 8.1 (8.1.0.4552) (64-bit). Why is EG not showing this correctly? Should I be worried?

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

Remove the format from the variable:

format IFRS9Classification2;

[franriv]

Thanks!