Using a %INCLUDE statement to include a file with an LRECL that is greater than 2,000 might produce inconsistent results. The results vary from error messages in the SAS^® Log to the appearance that the DATA step is looping.

The %INCLUDE statement is limited to processing files with LRECL=2000 when running a release of SAS prior to SAS^® 9.1. For SAS 9.1 and beyond, the maximum length for processing files with %INCLUDE is 6,000 characters (LRECL=6000).

For more information about submitting SAS code, %INCLUDE, and possible truncated data, records, or source lines, see the following SAS Notes:

• Problem Note 4448, "Source code, %INCLUDE records, and DATALINES are truncated at 256 bytes"
• SAS KB0041709, "Length limitations when submitting SAS code"
• SAS KB0041810, "Options you can use on the %INCLUDE statement such as a LRECL= specification"