SAS: Characters appear to be cut off in data set

Question

When I set a character's variable length to 2 bytes, the data set only shows one character. However, when I print it, the full input displays. To make things even weirder, when I change only the variable name, the problem goes away. Below are code samples accompanied by screen shots of my data views and PROC PRINT results.

I am using SAS 9.4 on Windows 7. I'm not sure what encoding is being used. As I've never changed it, I assume my encoding is wlatin1, as per this white paper. This should mean that each ASCII character is 7 bits. So, a length of 2. should be 16 bits, leaving 2 bits remaining when storing "AA".

I'm at a loss to explain what is going on and am concerned that I may be inadvertantly losing data.

data test1;
  length  cut   $ 1.
          full  $ 2.
          ;

  cut   = "AA";
  full  = "AA";
run;

proc print data = test1;
run;

I find that if I change the name of the variable, but keep everything else the same, the input displays properly in the data set as well as the output.

data test2;
  length  one_byte   $ 1.
          two_bytes  $ 2.
          ;

  one_byte   = "AA";
  two_bytes  = "AA";

run;

proc print data = test2;
run;

Below are screen shots of my data views and results window.

Answer 1

As you point out, the columns in ViewTable do not automatically resize to show entire contents of the variable.

An alternative approach would be to use 'Form View' - available in the toolbar along the top:

This could be assigned to a shortcut key, eg as follows:

dm "keydef F4 'viewtable &syslast view=form'";

Yet another approach (if using a version of base SAS earlier than 9.4) would be to use FS View (credit Jay Stevens) - for example:

dm "fsv sashelp.class";

More info on display manager shortcuts available here.

Answer 2

It appears that the field width in the data view isn't automatically adjusted by the value of the observations. Notice that "full" has a slightly lesser length than "AA" so that the field width cuts off the second "A". Drag the field header over and the 'missing' characters appear.