Date:         Wed, 8 Mar 2000 14:35:05 -0500
Reply-To:     Anne.Marie.Smith@ASTRAPHARMACEUTICALS.COM
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Anne.Marie.Smith@ASTRAPHARMACEUTICALS.COM
Subject:      Re: SAS System Viewer (6.12) gives wrong var. length
Comments: To: Tom Frenkel <taf2@IS8.NYU.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

A little less shocking way to check on dataset variables is to

!0 Open interactive SAS

2) submait Libname statements with location of your dataset

3) Using the pulldown menu,  select global, access, display libraries
   which will bring up your librefs entries.

4) Use S for Select which will give you the information you desire.
   You can also say B for Browsing any of your library datasets
   in a spreadsheet like fashion.

Hope this helps, I know that this method is an easy way to get the info you
desire.

Kind Regards,
Anne
http://geocities.com/~rainbow_softwr

-----------------------------------------------------


To:   SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
cc:
From: Tom Frenkel <taf2@IS8.NYU.EDU>
Date: 03/08/2000 06:54 PM GMT
Subject:  Re: SAS System Viewer (6.12) gives wrong var. length

Message
________________________________________________________________________________




Peter --

Well, I may have assumed something wrong here!  I thought that the SAS
System Viewer *was* part of the SAS System, AT LEAST in the sense that it
would share basic concepts & terminology.  When I used the Viewer to check
variable lengths as I was debugging a program, I had *FAITH* that the
magic "SAS" name would imply consistency and reliability.  (Well, why
shouldn't I have faith, with a product where inconsistencies are so rare,
and reliability is so high!).  So when "Length" turned out to mean
something different in the Viewer, from what it means in the rest of SAS,
it was quite a shock ...

At least, as Ian noted, things are more consistent -- and reliable -- in
Version 8!  Best,

        --Tom
        Tom Frenkel <taf2@is8.nyu.edu>
        http://pages.nyu.edu/~taf2

> may be I should have used a big (g)rin I just felt like a stir -
> especially when I see the magic b*g word. On the other hand The Viewer
> is subject to different rules, because it isn't The SAS System...
> ...