This does work in the sense that I am not creating a new variable to represent my types. When I implemented this concept, another method is to simply use 'Group 1:...', "Group2:....", Group 3:...." for the formats and include pertinent type info where the ellipses are. This works to order because SAS will order it then by the number ordering. This way also the printout can be descriptive of the original type variable. My only dissatisfaction is that this solution still adds unwanted character length to the type names i.e., Instead of simply having 'A', 'B', 'C' in the survival curve graph, we now have 'Group 1: C, 'Group 2: A', 'Group 3: B'. I am still wondering if there is a way to assign some inherent value to the type variable that will not show up anywhere aside from having SAS recognize the order.
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