length statement

[HeatherNewton]

length mob DQ_6 $20.;

Does this mean putting both mob and DQ_6 into format of length 20 ?

[ballardw]

Length will limit the number of characters stored. If another format is not defined those variables will default to a $20 display format. Character variables typically default to the length. Numeric variables default to BEST, usually Best12. and has nothing to do with the length.

A Format assignment can override that default format at any point.

[mkeintz]

The $20 applies to both of the variables preceding it.

It's not exactly a format (which is usually intended to tell SAS how to display a value) - as a LENGTH statement, it tells SAS to store the data in mob and in DQ_6 as strings of length 20 characters.