Create a new format

[ismahero2]

Hi,

I have tables with character columns for SSNs. I will like to build a format to have those numbers look like actual SSNs with the dashes, but still be a chracter column, not numeric.

SSNs_as_I_have_them	SSNs_as_I_want_them
001234567	001-23-4567
123456789	123-45-6789
999999999	999-99-9999

I have never build a format before.  Any help?

Thanks!

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

Use the SAS supplied format in a data step after temporarily treating SSN as numeric.

SSN_as_wanted = put(input(ssn,best.), ssn11.);