CATS function can result in truncated character values

When the CATS function, or any of the CAT functions that truncate trailing blanks, is used in combination with the MISSING='' option, the result of the CATS function may contain truncated character values. No error messages or warning are returned. The functions that are involved are: CATS, CATT, and CATX.

To circumvent the problem, use a value for the MISSING= option or use a different method to concatenate the values.

Operating System and Release Information

Product Family	Product	System	SAS Release
			Reported	Fixed*
SAS System	Base SAS	z/OS	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft® Windows® for 64-Bit Itanium-based Systems	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter 64-bit Edition	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise 64-bit Edition	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft® Windows® for x64	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server	9.1 TS1M3 SP4
		Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server	9.1 TS1M3 SP4
		Microsoft Windows 2000 Server	9.1 TS1M3 SP4
		Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional	9.1 TS1M3 SP4
		Microsoft Windows NT Workstation	9.1 TS1M3 SP4
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows XP Professional	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Windows Vista	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		64-bit Enabled AIX	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		64-bit Enabled HP-UX	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		64-bit Enabled Solaris	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		HP-UX IPF	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Linux	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Linux on Itanium	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		OpenVMS Alpha	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0
		Tru64 UNIX	9.1 TS1M3 SP4	9.2 TS1M0

* For software releases that are not yet generally available, the Fixed Release is the software release in which the problem is planned to be fixed.

---

data indata;
   length type $ 15 start $ 25;
   input type $ seq period $ flag $ start $ offset unit $;
   datalines;
pre-study 	-100 	. 		Y 	X_BIRTH_DATE 	. 	none
treatment 		1 	FIRST 	Y 	X_MINIMUM 		. 	none
saftey 		200 	SECOND 	N 	X_MAXIMUM 		. none
post-study 	300 	. 		N 	X_MAXIMUM2 		30 day
;
options missing='';
data test;
   set indata;
   newvar=cats("0000", '09'x, "000", '09'x, type, '09'x, seq, '09'x,period, '09'x, flag, '09'x, start, '09'x, offset, '09'x, unit);
run;
proc print; 
   title 'Results of CATS function';
run;

                                    Results of CATS function                                   13
                                                               

                                   p       o                           n
                    s              e       f                           e
    t               t              r    f  f  u                        w
  O y               a          s   i    l  s  n                        v
  b p               r          e   o    a  e  i                        a
  s e               t          q   d    g  t  t                        r

  1 pre-study  X_BIRTH_DATE -100        Y    none 0000	000	pre-study	-100		none
  2 treatment  X_MINIMUM       1 FIRST  Y    none 0000	000	treatment	1	FIRST	Y	X_MINIMUM		none
  3 saftey     X_MAXIMUM     200 SECOND N    none 0000	000	saftey	200	SECOND	N	X_MAXIMUM		none
  4 post-study X_MAXIMUM2    300        N 30 day  0000	000	post-study	300		N	X_MAXIMUM2	30	day

Using the CATS function, or any of the CAT functions that trim trailing blanks, with the MISSING='' option can result in concatenation of character values

Type:	Problem Note
Priority:	medium
Topic:	SAS Reference ==> Functions ==> Character ==> CATS SAS Reference ==> Functions ==> Character ==> CATT SAS Reference ==> Functions ==> Character ==> CATX

Date Modified:	2008-12-24 09:42:25
Date Created:	2008-12-24 08:30:02