Dynamically creating formats

[cgsmoak56]

Hi,

I am using the following code to dynamically create formats based on a SAS work dataset.

data _null_;
set cd_10_&ODS_dsn end=eof;
if _n_ = 1 then do;
put @1 "proc format;";
put @8 "value $&ODS_dsn";
end;
put @8 VariableOID @20 "= ' "cdval"'";
if eof then do;
put @8 ";";
put @1 "run;";
end;
run;

The code works fine.  For example, here is result in the log file.  

proc format;
value $CMCDB
CMINDTYP = ' #Coded_Terms!A244 '
CMONGO = ' #Coded_Terms!A247 '
;
run;
NOTE: There were 2 observations read from the data set WORK.CD_10_CMCDB.

What I do not see in the log file is a message that the format $CMCDB. has been outputted. When I try to use this format later in the program, the format is not found.

[Reeza]

Are you familiar with a CNTLIN data set? SAS can create a format from a data set directly.

[cgsmoak56]

Thank you.  That should also work.

[Reeza]

And you need CALL EXECUTE() not PUT.

[ballardw]

Make sure you show us the code you actually use. Best is to copy from the log, the entire proc format and any notes, the paste into a text box opened on the forum with the </> icon at the top of the message window.

The CNTLIN= option uses a standardized data set in Proc Format to create formats.

Your code would have to 1) write the code to a text file and then 2) use %include to make that execute.

data _null_;
set cd_10_&ODS_dsn end=eof;
file "<path to file>\makemyformat.sas";
if _n_ = 1 then do;
put @1 "proc format;";
put @8 "value $&ODS_dsn";
end;
put @8 VariableOID @20 "= ' "cdval"'";
if eof then do;
put @8 ";";
put @1 "run;";
end;
run;

%include "<path to file>\makemyformat.sas";

or use "call execute" instead of "put" to place the generated statements into the execution stack.

Just "putting" text to the log does not write any actual code that  is executed.

[FreelanceReinh · Accepted solution]

Hi @cgsmoak56,

---

@cgsmoak56 wrote:

What I do not see in the log file is a message that the format $CMCDB. has been outputted. When I try to use this format later in the program, the format is not found.

---

This is because you wrote the code to the log (as text), but did not execute it. This can be fixed easily: Write the code to a (e.g., temporary) text file and then submit the content of that file via %INCLUDE.

Only three statements need to be inserted into your code:

filename fmtcode temp;

data _null_;
file fmtcode;
<your code>
run;

%include fmtcode / source;

[cgsmoak56]

Thank you.  This solution worked!

[sbxkoenk]

Hello,

If you provide your input data set WORK.CD_10_CMCDB (2 records) in a data step with datalines (cards;), I will have a look at your data-driven code generation.

But in general it's better to use the CNTLIN= option to generate a format from a data set.

See here:

Base SAS Procedures Guide -- FORMAT Procedure
Example 13: Creating a Format from a CNTLIN= Data Set

https://go.documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.5/proc/n1e19y6lrektafn1kj6nbvhus59w.htm

Good luck,

Koen