SUPPORT / SAMPLES & SAS NOTES
Problem Note 65106: Leading blanks in variable names are ignored in SAS® Studio
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When SAS Studio attempts to assign updated values to variables within a DATA step, it does not observe the leading blank character spaces in variable names. This issue can cause incorrect values to be assigned to variables.
For example, you want to run the following DATA step:
data issue;
set literal;
'variable 1'n = -9;
' variable 1'n = 4;
set literal;
'variable 1'n = -9;
' variable 1'n = 4;
There are two variables, 'variable 1'n and ' variable 1'n. The second variable name has a character space, or blank, at the beginning of its name. When the DATA step is run in SAS Studio, the output shows that both variables contain a value of -9, even though the second variable should have a value of 4.
Click the Hot Fix tab in this note to access the hot fix for this issue.
Operating System and Release Information
| Product Family | Product | System | Product Release | SAS Release | ||
| Reported | Fixed* | Reported | Fixed* | |||
| SAS System | SAS Studio | Windows 7 Professional 32 bit | 3.71 | 9.4 TS1M5 | ||
| Windows 7 Home Premium x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit | 3.71 | 9.4 TS1M5 | ||||
| Windows 7 Enterprise x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Windows 7 Enterprise 32 bit | 3.71 | 9.4 TS1M5 | ||||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2016 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Std | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Std | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Datacenter | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2008 | 3.71 | 9.4 TS1M5 | ||||
| Microsoft Windows 10 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bit | 3.71 | 9.4 TS1M5 | ||||
| Microsoft Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows 8.1 Enterprise 32-bit | 3.71 | 9.4 TS1M5 | ||||
| Microsoft Windows 8 Pro x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows 8 Pro 32-bit | 3.71 | 9.4 TS1M5 | ||||
| Microsoft Windows 8 Enterprise x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Microsoft Windows 8 Enterprise 32-bit | 3.71 | 9.4 TS1M5 | ||||
| Microsoft® Windows® for x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| 64-bit Enabled AIX | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Windows 7 Ultimate x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit | 3.71 | 9.4 TS1M5 | ||||
| Windows 7 Professional x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| 64-bit Enabled Solaris | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| HP-UX IPF | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Linux for x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||
| Solaris for x64 | 3.71 | 5.1 | 9.4 TS1M5 | Viya | ||