How do I include a format name as an argument in a function defined with PROC FCMP?

[lopezr]

I'm fairly new to PROC FCMP and am wondering if it possible to provide a format name as an argument in a function defined using PROC FCMP. For example, in the below function to store values as `estimate (LCL, UCL)` I would like to allow the user to specify a format name of choice without having the restriction to only accepting a user defined format named __ESTF. Ideally I would have a function XparenthesisYZ(__x, __y, __z, __fmt) where __fmt is a format name. 

I use SAS 9.4M5 in a Linux environment and have tried various things without any luck. Appreciate any guidance.
Thanks!

**Define and store function ;
libname test "C:\FCMP_Test" ;

proc fcmp outlib=test.MyFunctions.Reporting ;
    **x (y, z) ;
    function XparenthesisYZ(__x, __y, __z) $ ;
    length __b $50 ;
    __b=compress(put(__x, __estf.))||" ("||
              compress(put(__y, __estf.))||", "||
              compress(put(__z, __estf.))||")" ;
    return (__b) ;
    endsub ;
run ;

**Define the format I want to use. This must be called __ESTF ;
proc format ;
    picture __Estf (round) 
        low   -  -1.1  ="00000000000009.9" (prefix = '-') 
        -1.1 <-<  0    = "9.99" (prefix = '-') 
        0     -<  1.1  ="9.99" 
        1.1   -   high = "00000000000009.9" ;
run ;

**Apply function to test data ;
options cmplib=test.MyFunctions ;

data test ;
    input OR OR_LCL OR_UCL ;
    OR_CI = XparenthesisYZ(or, or_lcl, or_ucl) ;
    datalines ;
2.3 1.3 3.3
0.856 0.555 2.55
0.057 0.864 3.444
     ;
run ;

title "Output" ;
proc print data=test noobs ;
run ;
title ;

[yabwon]

option 1) replace order, first make format then function:

**Define and store function ;
options dlcreatedir;
libname test "%sysfunc(pathname(work))/test" ;

**Define the format I want to use. This must be called __ESTF ;
proc format ;
    picture __Estf (round) 
        low   -  -1.1  ="00000000000009.9" (prefix = '-') 
        -1.1 <-<  0    = "9.99" (prefix = '-') 
        0     -<  1.1  ="9.99" 
        1.1   -   high = "00000000000009.9" ;
run ;

proc fcmp outlib=test.MyFunctions.Reporting ;
    **x (y, z) ;
    function XparenthesisYZ(__x, __y, __z) $ ;
    length __b $50 ;
    __b=compress(put(__x, __estf.))||" ("||
              compress(put(__y, __estf.))||", "||
              compress(put(__z, __estf.))||")" ;
    return (__b) ;
    endsub ;
run ;

**Apply function to test data ;
options cmplib=test.MyFunctions ;

data test ;
    input OR OR_LCL OR_UCL ;
    OR_CI = XparenthesisYZ(or, or_lcl, or_ucl) ;
    datalines ;
2.3 1.3 3.3
0.856 0.555 2.55
0.057 0.864 3.444
     ;
run ;

title "Output" ;
proc print data=test noobs ;
run ;
title ;

option 2) try function putn() which accepts format name as a string

all the best

Bart

[Tom · Accepted solution]

To pass a format to a function pass it as a character value. Then use it with the PUTN() or PUTC() function.

proc fcmp outlib=WORK.MyFunctions.Reporting ;
  function XparenthesisYZ(est,ll,ul,fmt $) $ ;
    length result $50 ;
    result=catx(' ('
          ,putn(est,fmt)
          ,catx(', ',putn(ll,fmt),putn(ul,fmt))
          )||')'
    ;
    return (result) ;
  endsub ;
run ;

So let's test it:

data test ;
    input OR OR_LCL OR_UCL ;
    OR_CI = XparenthesisYZ(or, or_lcl, or_ucl,'__estf.') ;
    OR_CI2 = XparenthesisYZ(or, or_lcl, or_ucl,'z5.2') ;

datalines ;
2.3 -1.3 3.3
0.856 0.555 2.55
0.057 0.864 3.444
;

Results:

  OR     OR_LCL    OR_UCL         OR_CI                 OR_CI2

2.300    -1.300     3.300    2.3 (-1.3, 3.3)     02.30 (-1.30, 03.30)
0.856     0.555     2.550    0.86 (0.56, 2.6)    00.86 (00.56, 02.55)
0.057     0.864     3.444    0.06 (0.86, 3.4)    00.06 (00.86, 03.44)

[lopezr]

Thank you @Tom ! This is exactly what I wanted.