Assigning user defined format to variables

[Eram]

Hi,

I am trying to associate the permanently saved user defined formats in data step with the dataset from sashelp.cars;

created the format as below-

PROC FORMAT LIBRARY=SDTM.FRMT1;
 VALUE MSRPFMT
  0-<20000="CHEAP AND BEST"
  20000-<40000="AFFORDABLE"
  40000-HIGH="LUXURY";
 RUN;

PROC FORMAT LIBRARY=SDTM.FRMT1;
 VALUE $ORIGINFMT
  "Asia"="PART'S FROM ASIA"
  "USA"="ASSEMBLED IN USA"
  "Europe"="VALIDATED IN EUROPE";

RUN;

to assign the format in data step-

DATA CARS ;
SET SASHELP.CARS (OBS=10) ;
FORMAT MSRP MSRPFMT. ORIGIN ORIGINFMT.;
RUN;

the log says-

ERROR 48-59: The format MSRPFMT was not found or could not be loaded.

62 ! FORMAT MSRP MSRPFMT. ORIGIN ORIGINFMT.;
                                 ----------
                                 48
ERROR 48-59: The format $ORIGINFMT was not found or could not be loaded.

63   RUN;

could someone help in finding what did i miss in the code?

Thanks

Eram

[LinusH]

You need the dollar sign in the format name when you assign it as well.

Be sure to point out your format location with FMTSEARCH global option.

[Eram]

updated the code as sggested with option= fmtsearch and $ sign in format name as -

OPTIONS FMTSEARCH=FRMT1;
DATA CARS;
SET SASHELP.CARS;
FORMAT MSRP MSRP. ORIGIN $ORIGINFMT.;
RUN;

log still says error-

DATA CARS;
SET SASHELP.CARS;
FORMAT MSRP MSRP. ORIGIN $ORIGINFMT.;
                 -----
                 48
ERROR 48-59: The format MSRP was not found or could not be loaded.

181! FORMAT MSRP MSRP. ORIGIN $ORIGINFMT.;
                              -----------
                              48
ERROR 48-59: The format $ORIGINFMT was not found or could not be loaded.

182  RUN;

[Ksharp]

OPTIONS FMTSEARCH=(SDTM) ;

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

You'll need a slightly more complex statement:

OPTIONS FMTSEARCH=(SDTM.FRMT1);

The default name of the format catalog (if you were to specify SDTM only) is FORMATS, not FRMT1.