BookmarkSubscribeRSS Feed
🔒 This topic is solved and locked. Need further help from the community? Please sign in and ask a new question.
MinalMurkhande
Calcite | Level 5

Hi ,

   On running the format procedure I get and Error saying : " You are trying to use the numeric format SURVIVED with the character variable Survived in data set TITANIC.TRAIN."

Here is my code :

proc format;

value survived 1='Survived'

               0='Died'

     ;

  run;

ods graphics on;

proc freq data=titanic.train;

tables survived sex Pclass

survived*sex survived*pclass/

plots(only)=freqplot(scale=percent);

format survived survived.;

run;

When I change the "Survived" column to numeric datatype it works. How do I apply the format procedure to a character datatype column.?

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
Reeza
Super User

format survived $survived.;

View solution in original post

4 REPLIES 4
Reeza
Super User

Make a character format:

proc format;

value $ survived '1'='Survived'

              '0'='Died'

     ;

  run;

MinalMurkhande
Calcite | Level 5

Hi Reeza,

Thank you for your reply.

I did try this option too but it still gives the same error .

Here is the excerpt from the log :

NOTE: Format $SURVIVED is already on the library WORK.FORMATS.

NOTE: Format $SURVIVED has been output.

29         run;

NOTE: PROCEDURE FORMAT used (Total process time):

      real time           0.00 seconds

      cpu time            0.00 seconds

     

30         ods graphics on;

31         proc freq data=titanic.train;

32         tables survived sex Pclass

33         survived*sex survived*pclass/

34         plots(only)=freqplot(scale=percent);

35         format survived survived.;

ERROR: You are trying to use the numeric format SURVIVED with the character variable Survived in data set TITANIC.TRAIN.

36         run;

NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors.

Reeza
Super User

format survived $survived.;

MinalMurkhande
Calcite | Level 5

Thank you.. ! Got it Smiley Happy

Catch up on SAS Innovate 2026

Dive into keynotes, announcements and breakthroughs on demand.

Explore Now →
What is Bayesian Analysis?

Learn the difference between classical and Bayesian statistical approaches and see a few PROC examples to perform Bayesian analysis in this video.

Find more tutorials on the SAS Users YouTube channel.

SAS Training: Just a Click Away

 Ready to level-up your skills? Choose your own adventure.

Browse our catalog!

Discussion stats
  • 4 replies
  • 14495 views
  • 0 likes
  • 2 in conversation