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

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