An error in PROC FORMAT (value labels)

[Emma_at_SAS]

I have some variables with negative values that are assigned for the missing observations. When I assign the value labels in proc format; the first time SAS reaches a negative value faces an error. My list of variables is long with several similar negative observations (-9). Please see my code and error below. Thank you for your suggestions. 

	value income
	  1 = "less than 20000"
	  2 = "20000-40000"
	  3 = "40000-60000"
	  4 = "60000-80000"
	  5 = ">80000"
	  -9 = "Don’’t know";
format income income.;

1556 +   9 = "Don’’t know"
         -
         180
ERROR 180-322: Statement is not valid or it is used out of proper order.

[Tom · Accepted solution]

Most likely the error is before line 1556 and it is just at line 1556 that SAS notices something has gone wrong.

Did you my mistake include a semi-colon before that last line?

Did you use something other than a hyphen character for the minus sign?  Try retyping that line, especially if you have copied the lines from a word processing program (or email).

[Emma_at_SAS]

Thank you Tom! Yes, I had an extra semi-colon before that last line but I could not see that until you told me. Thanks

[japelin]

Please provide reproducible data and programs, not excerpts.

[PaigeMiller]

Please show us the ENTIRE log for your PROC FORMAT, and not selected pieces.

[Emma_at_SAS]

Thanks @PaigeMiller  @japelin  @Tom for your thoughts and suggestions

[ballardw]

One Problem: Wrong character for single quotes:

-9 = "Don’’t know";

Compare with:

-9 = "Don''t know";

The "curly" quotes are not treated as programming quotes properly.

The statement

format income income.;

does not belong in Proc Format. Proc format would not have a variable named income to attach a format to.

You would use that format statement in a proc using a data set such as Proc Print, or in data step code to permanently associated the format income with the variable.

As mentioned by others: Show the log for the entire procedure or data step that shows that error. Copy the entire text from the Log and paste into a text box opened on the forum with the </> icon.

BTW,  if you need a single quote to appear inside a value surrounded by double quotes you do not need to double them such as

	  -9 = "Don't know";

You would need the two single quotes in don't if you were only using single quotes all the time

	  -9 = 'Don''t know';

[Emma_at_SAS]

Thank you @ballardw. lots of good points!