Chapter 10: Creating Formats and Labels

What Is a SAS Format and Why Is It Useful?

Using SAS Built-in Formats

More Examples to Demonstrate How to Write Formats

Describing the Difference between a FORMAT Statement in a Procedure and a FORMAT Statement in a DATA Step

Making Your Formats Permanent

Creating Variable Labels

Conclusion

Problems

What Is a SAS Format and Why Is It Useful?

It is a common practice to store information in a database using codes rather than actual values. For example, you might have a questionnaire where the responses are strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, and strongly agree. It would be unusual to store the actual values in your database—rather, you would use coded values such as 1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, ...

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