&SETBLNK

Returns a blank string.

&SETBLNK [ length ]

&SETBLNK is a built-in function and must be used to the right of an assignment statement.

The &SETBLNK function sets a variable to blanks and optionally sets it to a specific length. If the target variable already exists, then it will be set to blanks for the current length of the variable, if the length operand is omitted. If length is specified, then the length of the variable will be truncated or extended as necessary.

If the target variable (to the left of the assignment statement) does not exist (a null), then one will be created and blank filled to the specified length. If length is not specified, then the maximum length for a variable will be assumed.

Setting a length of zero will cause the variable to be deleted (set to null).

Operands:

length: The new length for the target variable. This may be from 0 to the maximum length of a variable.

Examples: &SETBLNK

&VAR = &SETBLNK 20

&ABC = &SETBLNK

Notes:

Use of &SETBLNK will destroy any data currently assigned to an existing variable.