topic Re: Changing Format and Informat in SAS Programming

Changing Format and Informat

RandyStan — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:52:31 GMT

Dear All:

I have two variables and I want to change the format and informat of these variable

VarA has

Format BEST12. INFORMAT BEST32.

I want to change it to BEST12. and BEST12.

Var_B has $13. as the format and $13. as the INFORMAT

I want to change it to

$12. as the format and $12. as the Informat

Can someone please help

Randy

Re: Changing Format and Informat

PaigeMiller — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 20:02:02 GMT

Once the variables are in a SAS data set, further changing of the informat is useless, it has no impact. So don't do that.

To change the format of a variable from $13. to $12. (why?)

proc datasets library=WORK; /* Or whatever the proper library name is */
    modify have; /* Or whatever the proper data set name is */
    format var_b $12.;
run;
quit;

You can also change the format in procedures where this variable is used. The only real impact of changing format from $13. to $12. is to chop off the last character, is that really what you want?

Re: Changing Format and Informat

russt_sas — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 20:01:19 GMT

You can use PROC DATASETS to make your changes, for example:

data one;
x=100;
format x percent.;
run;

proc datasets lib=work nolist;
modify one;
format x best3.;
quit;