Date:         Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:14:55 -0700
Reply-To:     "Nordlund, Dan (DSHS/RDA)" <NordlDJ@DSHS.WA.GOV>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Nordlund, Dan (DSHS/RDA)" <NordlDJ@DSHS.WA.GOV>
Subject:      Strange (to me) format issue
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

I was asked a question about formats that I was not able to answer. Given the following data step and print procedure

proc format;
  value $alphafmt
    'a' = 'alpha'
        'b' = 'bravo'
        'c' = 'charley'
        ;
run;

data test;
  x='a';
  format x $alphafmt.;
run;
proc print;
run;

The format, $alphafmt, is associated with the variable x.  When printed out PROC PRINT, the value of x is displayed as 'alpha' (without the quotes), but the value displayed when browsing the dataset with SAS Explorer is just 'a'.  The dataset properties window says that the format is associated with the variable x.

If the format name is shortened by one or more characters, say $alphfmt, then the formatted value is used for display in SAS Explorer.  Anybody have an explanation?  Is this a "bug" in SAS Explorer related to the limit on format name length in prior versions of SAS.  I am using SAS 9.1.3 Service Pack 4 on a WinXP Pro box.

Thanks for any enlightenment that I am sure is forthcoming. :-)

Dan

Daniel J. Nordlund
Research and Data Analysis
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Olympia, WA  98504-5204