When an empty string ('') is encountered in code, the SAS^® textualizer converts the empty string to a blank (' ') in a query that is generated to be passed to a database management system (DBMS). A new environment variable, SAS_PRESERVE_EMPTY_STRING, has been added to enable users to choose one of the following options:

• keep the existing behavior 
• allow the code that is passed to the DBMS to maintain its original syntax 

The existing behavior is the default setting. If you set the option to "1" or YES, the query maintains its original syntax when an empty string is encountered. 

Click the Hot Fix tab in this note to access the hot fix for this issue.

Operating System and Release Information

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.4_M6 is available at:

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.4_M5 is available at: