I sent out my previous response before seeing this one. I think this is what I need. Thanks.

On Thu, 25 May 2006 21:10:15 +0000, toby dunn <tobydunn@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

>OKay Kevin , > >So I posted the wrong code its been one heck of a day. I cant remember when >I wrote so much code. My fingers are worn down to the nub and my mind what >little I have is threatening a strike. > >try this: > >proc sql; >create table tmplt >(a char(5), >b char(10), >c num); > >data xx; >If _N_ = 0 then set tmplt; >a='abc'; >b='xyz'; >d=a||b; >output; > >run; > >proc contents >data = xx ; >run ; > >proc print >data = xx ; >run ; > > > > >Toby Dunn > > > > > >From: Kevin Roland Viel <kviel@EMORY.EDU> >Reply-To: Kevin Roland Viel <kviel@EMORY.EDU> >To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU >Subject: Re: make a data set from an empty data? >Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 17:03:15 -0400 > >On Thu, 25 May 2006, toby dunn wrote: > > > Ya , > > > > proc sql; > > create table tmplt > > (a char(5), > > b char(10), > > c num); > > > > data xx; > > > > a='abc'; > > b='xyz'; > > d=a||b; > > output; > > > > set tmplt; > > > > run; > > > > proc print > > data = xx ; > > run ; > >Better check the variable attributes, like length :) > >Kevin > >Kevin Viel >Department of Epidemiology >Rollins School of Public Health >Emory University >Atlanta, GA 30322