Date:         Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:14:21 -0800
Reply-To:     jfh@stanfordalumni.org
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jack Hamilton <jfh@STANFORDALUMNI.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Use format file to format large number of variables
Comments: To: Herbert Morley A <Morley.Herbert@HCAHEALTHCARE.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <8ECA5DB5E27D214E955AA0084AC9739B3148B0A12A@FWDCWPMSGCMS06.hca.corpad.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

How does SAS know that the formats are associated with the variables?

If they're "associated with" in the normal SAS sense (format names
stored in the data set header), and the format library is in the
FMTSEARCH system option search path, you shouldn't have to do anything
to make the formats be used for display (with most procedures).  What
formats does PROC CONTENTS say are associated with the variables?  How
is your FMTSEARCH defined?




On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:32:35 -0600, "Herbert Morley A"
<Morley.Herbert@HCAHEALTHCARE.COM> said:
> I have two datasets that were sent to me
> Data1.sas7bdat and data2.sas7bdat
>
> The data has associated formats stored in a file
> formats.sas7bcat
>
> Problem:
> I want to print out the data in a formatted style to look at. I know how
> to use formats in print etc, but I wonder if you can just tell it to use
> the format library and format each variable as defined.
>
> Real problem is one of typing (laziness). The datasets have 238 and 171
> variables and they are formatted with one of 13 formats. I really don't
> want to type all the variable names in a format statement.
>
> Any suggestion would be appreciated.
>
> Best of the season (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza) to everyone and wishing
> all a Happy New Year.
>
> Morley Herbert


--
Jack Hamilton
Sacramento, California
jfh@alumni.stanford.org  <== Use this, not jfh @ stanfordalumni.org