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Formatting a numeric variable with a length of less than 8 can produce
incorrect results.  This can occur if the format being applied is a
user-defined format that uses an existing format as a label.

The output from the following PROC PRINT illustrates the problem:

    PROC FORMAT;
      VALUE TEST OTHER=[DATE9.];
    RUN;
    DATA ONE;
      LENGTH X 4;
      X='01JUL2000'D;
      FORMAT X TEST.;
    RUN;
    PROC PRINT;
    RUN;

   Produces:

   Obs                 X
      1           01JAN1960

Since the values of numeric variables are kept in full 8-byte
floating-point representation in the program data vector within a DATA
step, a PUT statement will not reproduce this problem.

To circumvent the problem, assign a length to the variable that is long
enough to properly display the value.


A Technical Support hot fix for Release 8.1 TSLEVEL TS1M0 for this
issue is available at:

http://www.sas.com/techsup/download/hotfix/81_sbcs_prod_list.html#003430

This problem is also fixed in Release 8.2.

Operating System and Release Information

A fix for Release 8.1 (TS1M0) for this issue is available at: