what am I doing wrong? formatting missing values

[K_S]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to create formats using proc format but for whatever reason the missing values are not getting formatted.

Same problem for both numeric and character vars.

Any idea why?

[PaigeMiller]

Show us the code. Show us a portion of the data.

[K_S]

PROC FORMAT;
VALUE AREA (NOTSORTED)
1="URBAN: built-up area with a high population density"
2="RESIDENTIAL: living dwellings"
.="MISSING/UNKNOWN";
RUN;

[PaigeMiller]

Hi. I requested you show us two things. You only showed us one.

Also show us the rest of the code where you assign the format to a variable.

[K_S]

data X;
set Y;
FORMAT
AREA AREA.;
RUN;

and please note, the other values get formatted, but not the missing ones.

[unison · Accepted solution]

PROC FORMAT;
VALUE AREA (NOTSORTED)
1="URBAN: built-up area with a high population density"
2="RESIDENTIAL: living dwellings"
.="MISSING/UNKNOWN"
other="some other value";
RUN;

Could be that your missing values are not . but rather some other missing such as .Z or ._

[K_S]

Sadly, that is not the case. Any other possible explanation.

[unison]

data have;
	input area;
	datalines;
1
2
.
.
;
run;

proc format;
	value area 
		1='URBAN: built-up area with a high population density' 
		2='RESIDENTIAL: living dwellings'
		.='MISSING/UNKNOWN';
run;

data want;
	set have;
	format area area.;
run;
proc print noobs;
run;

This works just fine. Can't really know for sure what's going on without data/images/etc.

Best,

[K_S]

I see what you mean now! How would i be able to find out what the missing value is? I am looking at my table and see dots.

[jimbarbour]

Can you post your proc format code, your data, and your results? Otherwise I think I'd kind of be taking a shot in the dark.

Jim

[K_S]

I have posted the syntax in response to someone else's comment. I will not be posting the data.