topic formats in SAS Programming

formats

shivamarrora0 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:14:53 GMT

Add leading zero to numeric variable WithOUT using ZW.D format

Re: formats

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:19:01 GMT

@shivamarrora0 wrote:

Add leading zero to numeric variable WithOUT using ZW.D format

Why would somebody want to do such a stupid thing? Use the right tool (Maxim 14).

Re: formats

shivamarrora0 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:22:08 GMT

This was the question asked by me in an interview

Re: formats

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:25:01 GMT

My answer would be

"You want me to do meaningful work for you, not waste my (and your) time, don't you?"

Look for an employer with brains.

Re: formats

RW9 — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:35:54 GMT

Whilst I completely agree with @Kurt_Bremser that this is typical daft interview question, it is designed to see how you think on your feet (i.e. you wouldn't know this was a question coming up). It would also demonstrate if you know multiple ways of doing things. Couple of options:

1) Create your own picture format and apply

2) Create a text version of the number and use string functions to add the required number of zeroes

Obviously the ideal scenario is to keep as a number and format using the provided Z format, however knowing the other options can be useful in other scenarios, such as if the format doesn't show exactly the way you want it to.

Re: formats

ballardw — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 08:44:34 GMT

@shivamarrora0 wrote:
This was the question asked by me in an interview

Generally when given an abitrary restriction in a question like that I would ask questions about any cause for the restriction. Such restrictions might arise based on something else in the data/procedures/environment limits and a suggestion should tailor to the causes.

Other wise this is like asking someone to add without using + button on a calculator.

Re: formats

Ksharp — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:45:18 GMT




proc format;
picture fmt
 other='999999';
run;
data a;
 set sashelp.class;
 keep age;
 format age fmt6.;
run;

Re: formats

Ranjeeta — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 22:10:48 GMT

data NACRS.NACRS1617;
704 set NACRS.NACRS1617(rename=(RESPONSIBILITY_FOR_PAYMENT=temp));
705 RESPONSIBILITY_FOR_PAYMENT = put(temp,Z2.);
---
48
ERROR 48-59: The format $Z was not found or could not be loaded.

706 run;

Am I writing this correctly?

Re: formats

Kurt_Bremser — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 23:20:28 GMT

RESPONSIBILITY_FOR_PAYMENT is already character.

Maxim 3: Know Your Data

Re: formats

Tom — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 23:44:35 GMT

I do not understand that question.

You cannot add a lead zero to a number. Or put another way no matter how many leading zeros you add to a number it won't change the value of the number.