Age varible as character variable and with the formatted values. Is it possible if so pls suggest the way?

[devarayalu]

data sasuser.demog;

   input subject race age sex $1. eth trt;

datalines;

   1 2  6 M 2 1

   2 4  0 M 4 2

   3 1 33 F 1 1

   4 2 38 F 2 2

   5 4  2 F 4 1

;

   run;

proc format library=sasuser;

   value $age   0-17='<18'

               18-29='18-29'

               30-39='30-39'

               40-49='40-49';

run;

options fmtsearch=(sasuser);

PROC TABULATE DATA=sasuser.demog out=sasuser.demog1(drop= _table_ _page_ _type_);

   class trt age/preloadfmt;

   format age age.;

   table age, trt all/printmiss;

RUN;

By this code I am getting age numeric variable but with formatted values. I want the same dataset but that age varible as character variable and with the formatted values. Is it possible if so pls suggest the way?

[LinusH]

Try specify discrete values for age (not intervals) in your format specification.

[Keith · Accepted solution]

just run a data step with the put statement to create a new variable with the formatted values

length age_band $10;

age_band =put(age,$age.);