What is the order in which SAS searches for formats?
If you specify FMTSEARCH=(ABC WORK LIBRARY), SAS searches in this order: Abc. Formats. Work.
What is FMTSEARCH in SAS?
The FMTSEARCH= option allows you to tell SAS which catalogs to search when a user-written format is referenced. However, this option can be unforgiving and provides little feedback. This paper presents a macro which allows for more control over the FMTSEARCH= option.
How do you make a permanent format in SAS?
To permanently store a SAS® format so that it can be used in subsequent SAS sessions, you need to use the LIB= option on the PROC FORMAT statement. This option specifies the library, catalog name, or both, that will contain the format catalog.
What is a SAS format library?
A SAS library is just a “short cut” or a nickname to a subdirectory found somewhere on a hard drive. You can use a LIBNAME statement to define the nickname. LIBNAME SASDATA ‘C:\SASDatasets’ The catalog can be called any valid dataset name. PROC FORMAT LIBRARY=SASDATA.
Where are SAS formats stored?
By default, the format catalogue is stored in the work directory and deleted at the end of the SAS session (along with temporary data sets).
How do I apply a format in SAS?
names one or more variables for SAS to associate with a format. You must specify at least one variable. To disassociate a format from a variable, use the variable in a FORMAT statement without specifying a format in a DATA step or in PROC DATASETS. In a DATA step, place this FORMAT statement after the SET statement.
How do I view a SAS file?
Viewing a Format Definition Using SAS Explorer
- Select View. Explorer.
- Open the format folder. To view the default format folder, expand Libraries. Work and select Formats.
- To view the format description, do one of the following actions on the format name in the contents pane: double-click the format name.
What does fmtsearch mean in SAS system options?
FMTSEARCH= System Option. Specifies the order in which format catalogs are searched. searches format catalogs in the order listed, until the desired member is found. The value of catalog-specification can be either libref or libref.catalog. If only the libref is given, SAS assumes that FORMATS is the catalog name.
How is the format catalog searched in fmtsearch?
The catalogs WORK.FORMATS and LIBRARY.FORMATS are always searched, whether or not they appear in the search list. The WORK.FORMATS catalog is always searched first, and the LIBRARY.FORMATS catalog is searched next, unless one of the catalogs appears in the FMTSEARCH= list.
How does the format search path work in SAS?
The format search path creates an order of search for formats. If the requested format is not found in the first format catalog listen then it goes the next and so on until found (or not). Your problem looks like the affective options statement is this one, not the one shows.
How does SAS search for a locale catalog?
If you specify /LOCALE, SAS searches for a catalog that is associated with the current SAS locale before it searches the FORMATS catalog. The locale catalog name is based on the POSIX locale name for the current locale. Two catalogs might exist for each POSIX locale name: one catalog for the language and one catalog for the language_country.