topic Re: converting dataset2formats in SAS Programming

converting dataset2formats

rajeshm — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 10:27:25 GMT

1. if dataset having fmtname start and label variables only,how sas creating a format/in format with cntlin option of proc format?

2. type varible(optional) is for character/numeric , again why fmtname beginning with $ and type is mentioning as 'c'.

both are in the same book and some one explain me ,please

proc format cntlin=exposure fmtlib;

run;

proc format;

select @exp1944fmt @exp1945fmt; informats to print

run;

proc format cntlin=control fmtlib;

run;

proc format;

select $ICDFMT; formats to print

run;

Re: converting dataset2formats

RW9 — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 10:35:22 GMT

I do not understand the question. If you read in and create a format catalogue from a dataset, the type variable indicates if the format applied is character or numeric. The c means that the format is a character format so the input and output would be character e.g:

$SEXC

'1' = 'Male'

'2' = 'Female'

For missing or n then this means a number to character:

SEXC

1 = 'Male'

2 = 'Female'

Re: converting dataset2formats

rajeshm — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:58:19 GMT

sorry for the trouble.

first program: for the input dataset, sas created a informat with the given values.

second program: for the input dataset, sas created a format with the given values.

in both the cases I have given fmtname,start and label only,but one time sas created a format another time sas created informat

first program

proc format cntlin=exposure fmtlib; * here sas created a informat from the varibles( fmtname,start and end values)

run;

proc format;

select @exp1944fmt @exp1945fmt;

run;

second program

proc format cntlin=control fmtlib; * here sas created a format from the varibles (fmtname,start and end values)

run;

proc format;

select $ICDFMT;

run;

Re: converting dataset2formats

RW9 — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:22:47 GMT

Yep, really not following you. What is the difference between the exposure and control tables? There shouldn't be that much difference between formats and informats, one is a method of reading in the data, the other for display. Perhaps post the datasets, or a subset thereof so I can see the elements.

Re: converting dataset2formats

Tom — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:49:33 GMT

SAS has FORMATS and INFORMATS. The first converts a value to a character string and the second converts a character string to a value.

Both can be either numeric or character.

When you reference them in SAS code you use $ before the name for character formats or informats.

When you reference them in the SELECT or EXCLUDE statement in PROC FORMAT you also add @ in front of the name to let it know that you mean an INFORMAT.

When you are trying to create them from a dataset you set the variable TYPE to indicate which you want to create.

N=Numeric format

C=Character format

I=Numeric informat

J=Character informat

Try this little program.

proc format ;

value A 1='A' ;

value $B '1'='B' ;

invalue C 'C'=1 ;

invalue $D 'D'='1' ;

run;

proc format fmtlib cntlout=formats;

run;

proc print ;

var fmtname type start label ;

run;

Re: converting dataset2formats

rajeshm — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 15:27:24 GMT

hi,

thanks for the reply.

I know for creating a format from a dataset ,3 varibles are enough(fmtname,start,label). suppose my dataset not having a type column and I am using cntlin option for creating the format/informat. then how sas is creating the formats/informats.

I tried with your example only, used the cntlout option to create a dataset from the format and after that I deleted the formats in catalog and dropped the type column in dataset and again used the option cntlin option to create a format/informat from the dataset. then you can find the log here.

9290 proc format cntlin=dataset fmtlib ;

NOTE: Format A has been output.

NOTE: Format B has been output.

NOTE: Format C has been output.

NOTE: Format D could not be written because it has the same name as an Institute-supplied format.

what is error here?

Re: converting dataset2formats

Tom — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 17:48:46 GMT

There is no error there. Since you did not provide a TYPE variable it tried to create them all as numeric formats. If you do not want numeric formats then you need to provide the TYPE variable.

Re: converting dataset2formats

jakarman — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 18:57:42 GMT

Yep, as documented SAS(R) 9.4 Formats and Informats: Reference format D is a name already being used as SAS supplied

Base SAS(R) 9.4 Procedures Guide, Third Edition See restrictions: "The name of a user-defined format cannot be the same as the name of a format that is supplied by SAS."

It works as documented. No error, just keep attention to RTFM.

Re: converting dataset2formats

rajeshm — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 14:19:13 GMT

hi,

As per my understand,

if we are not mentioning type column it will create format default(numeric/character name depnds on the fmtname ) But if we mention (i,j) as types then it will create informats.

if my assumption is wrong,let me know.