LENGTH Statement: Windows

Specifies the number of bytes SAS uses to store numeric variables.

Valid in:	a DATA step
Windows specifics:	Valid numeric variable lengths; valid values for length; valid values for n
See:	LENGTH Statement in SAS Statements: Reference

Syntax

LENGTH <variable-1> <…variable-n> <$> <length> <DEFAULT=n> ;

DEFAULT=n: changes the default number of bytes used for storing the values of newly created numeric variables from 8 to the value of n. Under Windows, the value of n can range from 3 to 8 bytes.

The LENGTH statement specifies the number of bytes SAS is to use for storing values of variables in each data set being created.

CAUTION:

Any length less than 8 bytes can result in a loss of precision for the value of the variable.