https://communities.sas.com/t5/Statistical-Procedures/PROC-FORMAT-Basic-Problem/m-p/30131#M1245 Assign the associated format when you create the SAS variable (typically a DATA step?), either using a FORMAT or ATTRIB statement.<BR /> <BR /> Scott Barry<BR /> SBBWorks, Inc. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:42:25 GMT sbb 2009-12-14T16:42:25Z https://communities.sas.com/t5/Statistical-Procedures/PROC-FORMAT-Basic-Problem/m-p/30130#M1244 Hello everyone,<BR /> <BR /> I have a code in which I import data from a file and then I create a format using PROC FORMAT. But then every time I want to do some sort of output of the data I need to type [pre]FORMAT Var1 Var1. Var2 Var2. ...[/pre]<BR /> <BR /> example:<BR /> [pre]OPTIONS FMTSEARCH= (FORMATS) ;<BR /> PROC PRINT data=TEMP;<BR /> format Region Region. Risk Risk. Economic_Health Economic_Health.;<BR /> RUN;<BR /> [/pre]<BR /> <BR /> Is there any way to apply this format "permanently" so to speak? Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:32:54 GMT https://communities.sas.com/t5/Statistical-Procedures/PROC-FORMAT-Basic-Problem/m-p/30130#M1244 deleted_user 2009-12-14T16:32:54Z https://communities.sas.com/t5/Statistical-Procedures/PROC-FORMAT-Basic-Problem/m-p/30131#M1245 Assign the associated format when you create the SAS variable (typically a DATA step?), either using a FORMAT or ATTRIB statement.<BR /> <BR /> Scott Barry<BR /> SBBWorks, Inc. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:42:25 GMT https://communities.sas.com/t5/Statistical-Procedures/PROC-FORMAT-Basic-Problem/m-p/30131#M1245 sbb 2009-12-14T16:42:25Z