Date:         Fri, 15 Oct 2004 09:04:16 -0400
Reply-To:     "Chang Y. Chung" <chang_y_chung@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Chang Y. Chung" <chang_y_chung@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Need help on format/informat and input/put
Comments: To: shankardasm@BLUEBOTTLE.COM

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 20:02:06 -0700, shanky <shankardasm@BLUEBOTTLE.COM>
wrote:

>Hi guys:
>
>I am finding it a bit difficult to understand format and informat as
>in the case of date or price(value in dollars). i do not understand
>when we have to do format and when informat.
>
>Also i need to know when to use input and when to use put

Hi, Shanky,

Here is some basics about sas formats and informats/ put() and input().

1. use format with put (statement or function) and informat with input.

2. Char ---> input +---> Char ---+
                   |             |
                   +---> Num  ---+ put ---> Char

  That is, an input to input() or input statement is always a string;
  while output of the put() or put statement is always a string.

3. Now sas has only two variable types: character or numeric. no date
types or currency types. Within sas, it is a good idea to keep dates in a
numeric variable. See if following code example helps.

Cheers,
Chang

data one;
  /* read character string with an informat.
     birthday variable is of numeric type */
  input birthday date.;
cards;
31dec59
01jan60
02jan60
;
run;

/* birthday values are just numbers
   jan. 1, 1960 is the day zero */
proc print data=one;
run;
/* on log
Obs    birthday
 1        -1
 2         0
 3         1
*/

/* if you associate a format to display
   the value differently */

proc print data=one;
  format birthday mmddyy.;
run;
/*
Obs    birthday
 1     12/31/59
 2     01/01/60
 3     01/02/60
*/