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Date:   Wed, 4 Apr 2001 09:42:17 -0700
Reply-To:   Dale McLerran <dmclerra@MY-DEJA.COM>
Sender:   "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:   Dale McLerran <dmclerra@MY-DEJA.COM>
Subject:   Re: Names of formats in version 8 still only 8 characters long?
Comments:   To: jshoemaker@accordant.net
Content-Type:   text/plain

Jack,

You are correct that allowing longer formats will necessitate a change to the SAS dataset architecture. Changing the architecture of the dataset is what SI just did with version 8. The window was wide open for allowing format names to be expanded beyond the 8 character limit at that time. SI blew it on this one. They should come up with a solution for this. At least that is my opinion.

While there would be some reworking of the architecture of the dataset, I don't believe that allowing format names lengths to expand beyond the 8 character limit would be nearly the same degree of difficulty as enabling long variable names in the first place. Anyone know a birdie who could address this issue?

Dale

>Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 09:35:31 -0400 >Reply-To: Jack Shoemaker <JShoemaker@ACCORDANT.NET> >From: Jack Shoemaker <JShoemaker@ACCORDANT.NET> >Subject: Re: Names of formats in version 8 still only 8 characters long? >To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU > >Doug, > > Also, FILENAMES and LIBNAMES are still only 8. The reason for that >unpleasantness is to remain MVS (OS/390) compatible. Remember DDNAMES? If >you don't consider yourself lucky. > > The format name-space issue is a little different. FORMATS are written >to the header portion of the SAS data set. So, expanding the name-space >there is a relative BIG DEAL since it means a change to the architecture of >the SAS data set - a pretty import SAS data object. Whether the decision to >leave formats at eight characters was a conscious decision or an oversight >is a matter of SAS legend. In any event, I think we are stuck with eight >characters for a while. - Jack > >-- >Jack N Shoemaker / JShoemaker@Accordant.net >Visit our patient communities at http://www.accordant.com or our corporate >site http://www.accordant.net

--------------------------------------- Dale McLerran Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center mailto: dmclerra@fhcrc.org Ph: (206) 667-2926 Fax: (206) 667-5977 ---------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------ --== Sent via Deja.com ==-- http://www.deja.com/

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