Retrieve formats created in different operating system

[rgr1_]

Is there any way to retrieve information about formats that are created in different operating system? There is no way to find out what operating system was used to create the format.

[SASKiwi]

SAS formats are stored in SAS catalogs and as well as being OS-specific they are different depending on the bitness of the SAS version used to create them. Obviously the best way to recreate SAS formats is from the PROC FORMAT source code used to build them in the first place. Have you tried listing what is in the catalog?

proc format cntllib = MyLib.MyFormats;
run;

Contacting SAS Tech Support is another option. They are likely to have special tools for dealing with problems like this.

[rgr1_]

Hi. Was that proc format cntlin option? If so, It will not work since format is created in different operating system.

[Kurt_Bremser]

Just run the code that created the format originally.

[rgr1_]

I don't have the code available. Only catalogue file.

[Kurt_Bremser]

Then your best bet is SAS technical support, or anybody else that can provide the original combination of operating system and SAS version.

Also see Maxims 26 & 27.

And let this be an object lesson that SAS catalogs are the worst means of long-term storage.