Step-by-Step Programming with Base SAS 9.4

Identifying Character Variables and Expressing Character Values

To store character values in a SAS data set, you need to create a character value. One way to create a character variable is to define it in an input statement. Simply place a dollar sign after the variable name in the INPUT statement, as shown in the DATA step that created AIR.DEPARTURES:

input Country $ 1-9 CitiesInTour 11-12 USGate $ 14-26 
      ArrivalDepartureGates $ 28-48;

You can also create a character variable and assign a value to it in an assignment statement. Simply enclose the value in quotation marks:

Schedule = '3-4 tours per season';

Either single quotation marks (apostrophes) or double quotation marks are acceptable. If the value itself contains a single quotation mark, ...