A new method for continuum discretization in continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations is proposed. The method is based on an analytic local-scale transformation of the harmonic-oscillator wave functions proposed for other purposes in a recent work. The new approach is compared with the standard method of continuum discretization in terms of energy bins for the reactions d+Ni58 at 80 MeV, Li6+Ca40 at 156 MeV, and He6+Pb208 at 22 MeV and 240 MeV/nucleon. In all cases very good agreement between both approaches is found. © 2009 The American Physical Society.