title: Are there specifications for SAS export files when the data dictionary is split into input/format/label files?
body: <p>I'm trying to import data from SAS exports posted publicly. I am not using SAS to import these files, but importing them via custom script into another format. There are no specifications that I could find, but it seems pretty self-explanatory if you're used to databases.</p>
  
  <p>And then I found a dictionary file that specifies the last three columns as having lengths of 11.5, 12.5, and 9.5 characters. This makes zero sense to me.</p>
  
  <pre>
  @2682  PATWT            11.5      /* Patient visit weight used for national, regional, and divisional estimates                                                                                                                                                   */
  @2693  PATWTST          12.5      /* Patient visit weight used for state estimates                                                                                                                                                                                */
  @2705  PHYSWT           9.5       /* Weight used for physician-level estimates based on responding in-scope physicians seeing */
  </pre>
  
  <p>An explanation of this, or being pointed to official SAS specifications for this format would be extremely helpful.</p>