In the DATA Step, when writing to a file and using the FOOTNOTE statement, the pagesize setting might be increased by the number of blank lines written to the file ahead of non-blank lines. The initial pagesize setting is used for the first page but is increased for all subsequent pages. This problem only occurs when the program is submitted as a batch process on a UNIX or a z/OS system, using the DATA Step to write to a file with a FOOTNOTE statement, and writing blank lines to the file ahead of non-blank lines.

Following is a sample program that reproduces the problem. In this program the pagesize is set to 40. Because two blank lines are written ahead of the non-blank line and the FOOTNOTE statement is being used, the pagesize of 40 is used for the first page but increases to a pagesize of 42 for the second page.

   footnote "This is a footnote";
   options pagesize=40 NOCENTER NODATE NONUMBER;
   data test;
     file print notitles footnotes;
     test = " ";
     put @1 test;
     put @1 test;
     put "one";
     put _page_;
     put @1 test;
     put @1 test;
     put "two";
   run;

To circumvent the problem you can use an unprintable character such as '00'x or '09'x for the PUT statement in place of a blank space to give the illusion of a blank line being written to the file. Another circumvention is to use blank TITLE statements instead of writing blank lines with the PUT statement when needing to have blank lines written ahead of non-blank lines.

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