LENGTHN Function

Arguments

string

specifies a character constant, variable, or expression.

The LENGTHN function returns an integer that represents the position of the rightmost non-blank character in string. If the value of string is blank, LENGTHN returns a value of 0. If string is a numeric constant, variable, or expression (either initialized or uninitialized), SAS automatically converts the numeric value to a right-justified character string by using the BEST12. format. In this case, LENGTHN returns a value of 12 and writes a note in the SAS log stating that the numeric values have been converted to character values.

• The LENGTHN and LENGTH functions return the same value for non-blank character strings. LENGTHN returns a value of 0 for blank character strings, whereas LENGTH returns a value of 1.

• The LENGTHN function returns the length of a character string, excluding trailing blanks, whereas the LENGTHC function returns the length of a character string, including trailing blanks. LENGTHN always returns a value that is less than or equal to the value returned by LENGTHC.

• The LENGTHN function returns the length of a character string, excluding trailing blanks, whereas the LENGTHM function returns the amount of memory in bytes that is allocated for a character string. LENGTHN always returns a value that is less than or equal to the value returned by LENGTHM.

len=lengthn('ABCDEF');
put len;

len2=lengthn(' ');
put len2;

 
6

 
0

Copyright © 2011 by SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. All rights reserved.