Which SAS function is used to read character data with a set length?

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The INPUT function is used to convert character data to numeric data, and it is also employed to read character data when a specified length is required. This function allows the user to specify the input format for the data, making it particularly useful in scenarios where data arrives in a consistent format that must be interpreted as character strings.

When working with datasets where you need to ensure that character values are read with a designated length, the INPUT function can define that length. For example, if you have character data that you expect to have a specific number of characters, the INPUT function ensures that you can control how this data is read and stored in your SAS dataset.

The other functions listed do not serve this purpose in the same way. The READ function is not a standard SAS function for reading data. The SET statement is used to read data from a SAS dataset but does not inherently provide a mechanism to specify the length of character input. CHAR isn't a standard SAS function associated with reading data; instead, it refers to character data types in general. Thus, the INPUT function stands out as the correct choice for handling character data with a set length.

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