picture format for time axis

[xxformat_com]

Is it possible to use a picture format for the values a time axis?

In my test, it does not work.

proc format ;
    picture monyyd (default=6) low - high = '%b-%y' (datatype=date);
run;


data class;
    set sashelp.class;
    if sex='M' then month='01MAR2024'd;
    else month='01APR2024'd;
    monthc=put(month,monyyd.);
run;

proc sgplot data=class;
   vbarbasic monthc / response=height stat=mean; 
run; 

proc sgplot data=class;
   vbarbasic month / response=height stat=mean;
  
   xaxis values=('01MAR2024'd to '01APR2024'd by month) 
         type=time 
         interval=month
         valuesformat=monyy5.;
run;


proc sgplot data=class;
   vbarbasic month / response=height stat=mean;
  
   xaxis values=('01MAR2024'd to '01APR2024'd by month) 
         type=time 
         interval=month
         valuesformat=monyyd.;
run;      

[ChrisNZ]

Mmm things seem odd indeed.

I conducted a few more tests, and the picture format seems to be misinterpreted.

proc format ;
    picture monyyd (default=6) low - high = '%b-%y' (datatype=date);
run;

ods graphics on / width=5cm height=3cm;

data CLASS;
    set SASHELP.CLASS;
    if SEX='M' then MONTH='01MAR2024'd;
    else MONTH='01APR2024'd;
    MONTHC=put(MONTH,monyyd.);
run;

proc sgplot data=CLASS;
   vbarbasic MONTHC / response=HEIGHT stat=mean; 
run;
 
title 'format monyy.'; 
proc sgplot data=CLASS;
   vbarbasic MONTH / response=HEIGHT stat=mean;  
   xaxis values  = ('01MAR2024'd to '01APR2024'd by month) 
         type    = time 
         interval= month;
   format MONTH monyy.;
run;
title 'valuesformat monyy.'; 
proc sgplot data=CLASS;
   vbarbasic MONTH / response=HEIGHT stat=mean;  
   xaxis values  = ('01MAR2024'd to '01APR2024'd by month) 
         type    = time 
         interval= month
         valuesformat=monyy.;
run;
title 'format valuesformat monyy.'; 
proc sgplot data=CLASS;
   vbarbasic MONTH / response=HEIGHT stat=mean;  
   xaxis values  = ('01MAR2024'd to '01APR2024'd by month) 
         type    = time 
         interval= month
         valuesformat=monyy.;
   format MONTH monyy.;
run;

title 'format monyyd.'; 
proc sgplot data=CLASS;
   vbarbasic MONTH / response=HEIGHT stat=mean;
   xaxis values  = ('01MAR2024'd to '01APR2024'd by month) 
         type    = time 
         interval= month;
   format MONTH monyyd.;
run;   

title 'valuesformat monyyd.'; 
proc sgplot data=CLASS;
   vbarbasic MONTH / response=HEIGHT stat=mean; 
   xaxis values  = ('01MAR2024'd to '01APR2024'd by month) 
         type    = time 
         interval= month
         valuesformat=monyyd.;
run;    

title 'format valuesformat monyyd.'; 
proc sgplot data=CLASS;
   vbarbasic MONTH / response=HEIGHT stat=mean;
   xaxis values  = ('01MAR2024'd to '01APR2024'd by month) 
         type    = time 
         interval= month
         valuesformat=monyyd.;
   format MONTH monyyd.;
run;   
  

I also tried with datetime values as the confusing

NOTE: Time axis can only support date time values. The axis type will be changed to LINEAR.

message implies, to no avail.

Another confusing message is

NOTE: Since no format is assigned, the numeric category variable will use the default of BEST6. that appears even though a format is defined.

[ChrisNZ]

I'd contact tech support if no one answers here. This is strange.

Please keep this post updated if you do. 🙂

[Ksharp · Accepted solution]

[ChrisNZ]

That's a crazy shortcoming of ODS graphics. Even some SAS formats are unsupported after all these years it's been around! How did the developers get away with that?

Here's the link https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.5/grstatgraph/p0mwk2su1mw8bnn1f6xonfde64h5.htm

[yabwon]

You can try this "workaround":

proc format ;
    picture monyyd (default=6) low - high = '%b-%y' (datatype=date);
run;

data class;
    set sashelp.class;
    if sex='M' then month='01MAR2024'd;
    else month='01APR2024'd;
    monthc=put(month,monyyd.);
run;


%macro looper(d,n,f=best12.);
%do i = 0 %to &n.-1;
"%Sysfunc(intnx(month,&d.,&i.),&f.)"
%end;
%mend looper;

proc sgplot data=class;
   vbarbasic month / response=height stat=mean;
   xaxis 
    values=(%looper('01MAR2024'd,2))
    VALUESDISPLAY=(%looper('01MAR2024'd,2,f=monyyd.)) 
    ;
run; 

Bart