topic SAS sql remove format in SAS Procedures

SAS sql remove format

GeorgeSAS — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 16:31:25 GMT

Hello everyone,

How I can remove variable y's format in proc sql?

proc sql noprint;

create table two as

select x, y format=_null_ from one;

quit;

Thanks

Re: SAS sql remove format

BrunoMueller — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 16:43:50 GMT

Hi George

Proc SQL expects a format name in the syntax, you could use a generic one like BEST. for numeric values. In order to remove a format from a variable, you can use Proc DATASETS.

Something like

proc datasets lib=work nolist;

modify two;

format y;

run;

contents data=two;

run;

quit;

Will work

Re: SAS sql remove format

Tom — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:33:33 GMT

No, one of the limitations of way that PROC SQL supports formats.

Now you could trick SAS into thinking you have created a NEW variable so not have the format (or the label for that matter) carried forward.

select x, y+0 as y ....

Re: SAS sql remove format

brucehughw — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 16:18:39 GMT

Will the trick you suggest work for character variables? I have all sorts of airport codes, e.g. KBOS maps to 'Logan International ...', but

sometimes I just want KBOS, so that I can save that in a macro variable that I later use as an argument to a macro.

Thanks, Bruce

Re: SAS sql remove format

Reeza — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 20:28:14 GMT

Use a plain jane character format.
Format=$50.

Re: SAS sql remove format

brucehughw — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 13:04:49 GMT

Ah, so easy. Thanks!