variable type

[aloou]

Hello,

do you know why i get this ?

length COL2 varchar(*) COL3 varchar(*) COL4 varchar(*) annee_min 8 annee_max 8; 

ERROR: Cannot change variable type that is already defined for variable COL2.

[Tom]

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@aloou wrote:

Hello,

do you know why i get this ?

length COL2 varchar(*) COL3 varchar(*) COL4 varchar(*) annee_min 8 annee_max 8; 

ERROR: Cannot change variable type that is already defined for variable COL2.

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The message is saying that the variable COL2 is already defined.

But your syntax does not look valid. You cannot have a variable named varchar(*) , unless you have validvarname option set to any, but even then you would need to use a name literal. 

If you want to define COL2 as character then you have to specify the actual LENGTH you want it to have.

length col2 $10 col3 $15 col4 $20 ...

[ballardw]

Suggestion: Show an entire data step or procedure, not just one line of the code. Copy the entire thing from the LOG and paste the copied text into a text box opened on the forum with the </> icon.

Typically I would say that you are using a data set that already has a variable named Col2 that is numeric. Then your code would be attempting to change a property of that existing variable, which SAS won't do.