topic Re: proc format in SAS Procedures

proc format

SamuelRajKandru — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 07:28:35 GMT

I tried to create a character format and when I use the format in the print statement, the log window displays the following error. I defined the format type to be a character type format. But the error message tells me that I'm using a numerical format type on a character variable. What can be the solution? how can JobCode's - mixed values (character and numeric type) be displayed using a proc format? Is it possible? If no, is there any other solution for this?

Re: proc format

Kurt_Bremser — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 08:23:11 GMT

When you create the format $JOBF with proc format, you also must use the format $JOBF (note the dollar sign) in the format statement that assigns the format to a variable. A format without the dollar sign is always indicating a numeric format.

Re: proc format

SamuelRajKandru — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 17:20:27 GMT

Done that, but of no use. My variable has mixed values. So I need to figure how to create a format for the jobcode values like 'ME2' and 'SE3'. Is there any way?

Re: proc format

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 05:44:44 GMT

"Mixed values" does not mean mixed type. If your variable can contain alphanumeric values, then your variable is of type character, period.

So you must create and use a character format.

If you have numeric values in your string that need to be displayed with a generic number format, you will have to do a character-to-numeric conversion before applying a numeric format.