I know that Paul has already answered this, but here is another $0.02 With the trantab system option and procedure, you can control and customize the translations behind lowcase() and upcase() as well as between ascii and non-ascii systems. This allows you to adopt your own application conventions. If you want mono-case data, why not read all your text with the $upcase. informat .... once again the sas system provides defaults for flexibility and controls for those who don't want that flexibility !! .... * trim() when you want - other wise don't * upcase() or $upcase. when _you_ want * use data step "call symput()" if you must, but recognise proc sql noprint; select valu into :mvar1-:mvar9999 from your.table; quit; might read better for some people (=easier support) than data _null_; set your.data; call symput('mvar'||left(put(_n_,4.)), trim(left(put(valu,best12.)))); run; * use validvarname =upcase if _you_ want - don't force us * the data you process belongs to you, so don't blame the sas system when you find your data difficult to handle * SI owns the sas syntax, but listens to customers, maybe they hear your pain (at ballot and customer support !)

... /$0.02-rant-off

Datum: 10.12.2001 20:48 An: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU

Antwort an: mark.k.moran@CENSUS.GOV

Betreff: Re: upper(trim(left(myvar))) Nachrichtentext:

>>>>

Absolutely, plus there is a good deal of terminological confusion here. SAS allows identifiers to be case-insensitive, thus SAS cannot be called a case-sensitive language. Now, the notion that the software ought, by default, to convert all letters in data to the same case (which one?) is short-sighted, to put it mildly. Why would not demand, then, that all non-printable characters be mapped to the same hex? Different characters must be treated differently. If a certain business situation calls for treating some characters the same way, fine: SAS supplies the TRANSLATE function, and moreover, its functionality is duplicated by the UP/LOWCASE pair specifically for the letters.

>>>>

The question is what should the default be, the norm.

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