Find and delete a format

[EmilyAV]

In a previous programming session, I wrote the following format:

proc format;
	value class
	1 = 'No tests'
	2 = '1 to 3 tests'
	3 = '4 or more tests';
run;

Two questions:

1) How did this format get attached to the 8. general format? Now, when I create other variables and designate them as 8. format, I get the following error message:

ERROR: The format CLASS was not found or could not be loaded

2) How can I search for the CLASS format I created to delete it? It doesn't appear in my permanent or work libraries?

3) How can I change 8. back to a general numeric format?

Thank you.

[yabwon · Accepted solution]

1) use "nofmnterr" option: https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.5/lesysoptsref/p1djbl02hfnoe3n0zh2i3uu2aqrf.htm

2) if you dont have definition of a format you can:

a) overwrite it by "your defaut" format:

proc format;
	value class
	other=[best32.];
run;

b) or drop the format by proc datasets:

proc format;
	value class
	other="My format :-)";
run;

data test;
  a=1;
  format a class.;
run;
proc contents data = test;
run;

proc datasets lib = work;
  modify test;
    format a;
  run;
quit;

proc contents data = test;
run;

3) try like this:

proc datasets lib = work;
  modify test;
    format a best32.;
  run;
quit;

Bart

[EmilyAV]

Great, thank you!

[ballardw]

---

@EmilyAV wrote:

In a previous programming session, I wrote the following format:

proc format;
	value class
	1 = 'No tests'
	2 = '1 to 3 tests'
	3 = '4 or more tests';
run;

Two questions:

1) How did this format get attached to the 8. general format? Now, when I create other variables and designate them as 8. format, I get the following error message:

ERROR: The format CLASS was not found or could not be loaded

2) How can I search for the CLASS format I created to delete it? It doesn't appear in my permanent or work libraries?

3) How can I change 8. back to a general numeric format?

Thank you.

---

The error does not have anything to do with attempting to create other variables. Pretty much any use of data set with a format not currently defined with throw the error when option FMTERR is set. With NOFMTERR set you will often get something similar to

Format XXXXX was not found or could not be loaded.

where XXXXX is the name of the format in question. The default format for the variable type would then be used.