In the PROC CONTENTS does it show DATE or $DATE ? If it is the latter then I suggest that $DATE is user written format. If DATE can we see the offending file?

On 3/10/09, Paul Dorfman <sashole@bellsouth.net> wrote: > SAS'all, > > Can anyone picture a situation creating a SAS data file with a character > variable with a numeric format attached to it? > > The reason I am asking is that my colleague actually *has* received, as an > e-mail attachment, a SAS data file where a variable named VAR, say, is text > length 8 ($8) with DATE9. format sitting right atop its head. > > The data set does exist, and CONTENTS (or any other method of looking at > the metadata) reveals the contradiction between VAR's data type and format > type. She has no access whatsoever to the source and/or people who have > created the data set in the first place. Needless to say, any attempt to > read the data portion of the data set fails with the note that $DATE. > format does not exist. > > I have tried to emulate a data set like that... unsuccessfully so far. > Perhaps it is impossible in Version 9 but was possible in Version 8 (which > whoever has created the data set could still be running and to which I no > longer have access)? Of course, in general I would strongly question the > wisdom of such a data set being allowed to be created in the first place, > yet the fact is it exists. > > Any devil's advocate thoughts? > > TIA! > > Kind regards > ------------ > Paul Dorfman > Jax, FL > ------------ >