Base SAS Exam Question Help (Proc Format)

[BenCBanks]

So, I am reviewing some questions for my Base SAS exam this week and I came across this one: 

proc format;
value score 

 1 - 50 = 'Fail'
51 - 100 = 'Pass';
run;

proc report data = work.courses nowd;
column exam;
define exam / display format = score.;
run;

The variable EXAM has a value of 50.5.

How will the EXAM variable value be displayed in the REPORT procedure output?
A. Fail
B. Pass
C. 50.5
D. . (missing numeric value)

I realize the answer is C, b/c the proc format does not include 50.5, but my question is HOW would you rewrite this program to be inclusive of decimals? Would be as simple as adding .00 to the 100.00 and 50.00, etc. 

Also, on a somewhat unrelated notes, any tips on remembering the difference and uses of FORMAT and INFORMAT statements? Especially when inputting data. 

[novinosrin]

like this?

proc format;
value score 

 1 - <51 = 'Fail'
51 - 100 = 'Pass';
run;

[BenCBanks]

Perhaps that would do it. Does the < and > sign allow for exclusivity w/decimals when dealing with ranges? In other words, would 50.5 now be classified as "fail"? 

[novinosrin · Accepted solution]

A small illustration:

/*Redefine to make in inclusive*/

proc format;
value score 

 1 - <51 = 'Fail'
51 - 100 = 'Pass';
run;

data formatted_n;
do n=1 to 112 by 0.5;
format=put(n,score.);
output;
end;
run;

 50.5 is less than 51, so Fail 

[BenCBanks]

Got it. Did not realize that the < > allowed for exclusivity and that w/o them you would be simply looking at the whole number. Thanks! 

[Tom]

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@BenCBanks wrote:
... 

Also, on a somewhat unrelated notes, any tips on remembering the difference and uses of FORMAT and INFORMAT statements? Especially when inputting data. 

---

FORMATs convert values to text and INFORMATs convert text to values.

You use INFORMATs with INPUT statement and INPUT() function.

You use FORMATs with PUT statement and PUT() function.

So you use an INformat when INputting the data. You attach a format when you want to tell SAS how to display the value.

Remember that SAS already knows how to read and write numbers and character strings. So in most cases you do not need etther an INFORMAT or a FORMAT. The most obvious case where they are important is with DATE, TIME and DATETIME values since the text used to display those looks nothing like the value that is stored.