The PROC FORMAT step in this example creates a format, TYPEFMT., that formats the variable values 1, 2, and 3 with the name of one of the three other formats that this step creates. These three formats output responses of "positive," "negative," and "neutral" as different words, depending on the type of question. After PROC FORMAT creates the formats, the DATA step creates a SAS data set from raw data consisting of a number identifying the type of question and a response. After reading a record, the DATA step uses the value of TYPE to create a variable, RESPFMT, that contains the value of the appropriate format for the current type of question. The DATA step also creates another variable, WORD, whose value is the appropriate word for a response. The PUTC function assigns the value of WORD based on the type of question and the appropriate format.

proc format;
   value typefmt 1='$groupx' 
                 2='$groupy'
                 3='$groupz';
   value $groupx 'positive'='agree'
                 'negative'='disagree'
                 'neutral'='notsure ';
   value $groupy 'positive'='accept'
                 'negative'='reject'
                 'neutral'='possible';

   value $groupz 'positive'='pass    '
                 'negative'='fail'
                 'neutral'='retest';
run;

data answers;
   length word $ 8;
   input type response $;
   respfmt = put(type, typefmt.);
   word = putc(response, respfmt);
   datalines;
 positive
 negative
 neutral
2 positive
2 negative
2 neutral
3 positive
3 negative
3 neutral
;

The value of the variable WORD is agree for the first observation. The value of the variable WORD is retest for the last observation.

See Also

Functions:

INPUT

INPUTC

INPUTN

PUT,

PUTN

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