Create a format library from SAS dataset

To create SAS format library, SAS requires a datset in following format and with some of these variables.


To create a format or informat from a dataset using the CNTLIN option of PROC FORMAT, you need atleast the following variables in the

FMTNAME – Contains name of format or informat to be created
START – The value of the variable that we want to be formatted
LABEL - The variable containing the format value we want displayed..

There are many optional variables (see online documentation for complete list), the most useful of which is

TYPE - character variable that indicates the type of format. Possible values are
C character format
I numeric informat
J character informat
N numeric format (excluding pictures)
P picture format

The CNTLIN dataset must have these characteristics:

* For both numeric and character formats, the data set must contain the variables FMTNAME, START, and LABEL. The remaining variables are not required.
* If you are creating a character format, a character informat, or a PICTURE statement format, you must specify a TYPE variable with the value that indicates the type of informat or format you are creating.
* If range values are to be noninclusive, the variables SEXCL and EEXCL must each have a value of Y. Inclusion is the default.

You can create more than one format from an input control data set if the observations for each format are grouped together.


Following is the way to create a format from a dataset:



/*************************************SAS CODE *************************************/
options nodate pageno=1 linesize=80 pagesize=60;
libname manas '/udd/n2man/tkk';
libname library '/udd/n2man/'; /* creates a format library in the location /udd/n2man/ */
/* READ THE ORIGINAL DATASET */
/* VARIABLE DIAGCO CONTAINS THE VALUES TO WHICH A FORMAT (IN VARIABLE RISK) SHOULD BE ASSIGNED */
data dummy;
infile '/udd/n2man/tkk/surgpro.txt' missover;
input diagco $ risk desc $;
KEEP diagco risk;
length diagco $8;
run;
proc sort data=sample; by risk diagco;
run;

data new;
set dummy;
start =diagco; /* CREATE NEW VARIABLES NEEDED TO MAKE THE FORMAT */
label=risk; /* CREATE NEW VARIABLES NEEDED TO MAKE THE FORMAT */
/* to make a format from a range of values include the following */
/* end= endrange; *here values from start-endrange will be assigned */
/* a value */
fmtname='$random';
/* CREATES THE FORMAT NAME. IN THIS CASE ALL VARIABLES NEED TO HAVE THE SAME FORMAT */
/* format names can also be in the dataset but in this dataset they had to be created */

PROC SORT DATA = new OUT = FMT NODUPKEY;
BY START;
/* removes duplicate values of start that should only one label. Having two labels for the same value can be dangerous */

proc sql;
create table fmt as
select distinct start, label, fmtname
from new;
quit;
data finalfmt;
set fmt;
/**** This step converts the dataset fmt to format library */
PROC FORMAT LIB=library fmtlib CNTLIN=finalFMT;
run;

/*********************************************************************************/


I have used/copied some segments from http://www.uchsc.edu/coho/SAS_Uers/The%20Many%20Ways%20to%20use%20Formats.doc.