SAS Chapter 7: Creating And Applying User-defined Formats

1. If you don't specify the LIBRARY= option, your formats are stored in Work.Formats, and they exist ...

Only for the current procedure.

Only for the current DATA step.

Only for the current SAS session

Permanently.

If you do not specify the LIBRARY= option, formats are stored in a format catalog named Work.Formats. As the libref Work, implies, any format that is stored in Work.Formats is a temporary format that exists only for the current SAS session.

Explanation

If you do not specify the LIBRARY= option, formats are stored in a format catalog named Work.Formats. As the libref Work, implies, any format that is stored in Work.Formats is a temporary format that exists only for the current SAS session.

2. Which of the following FORMAT procedures is written correctly?

A semicolon is needed after the PROC FORMAT statement. The VALUE statement begins with the keyword VALUE and ends with a semicolon after all the labels have been defined.

Explanation

A semicolon is needed after the PROC FORMAT statement. The VALUE statement begins with the keyword VALUE and ends with a semicolon after all the labels have been defined.

3. How many characters can be used in a label?

40

96

200

256

When specifying a label, enclose it in quotation marks and limit the label to 256 characters.

Explanation

When specifying a label, enclose it in quotation marks and limit the label to 256 characters.

4. Which of the following statements will store your formats in a permanent catalog?

Libname library 'c:\sas\formats\lib';proc format lib=library ...;

Libname library 'c\sas\formats\lib';format lib=library ...;

Library='c:\sas\formats\lib';proc format library ...;

Library='c:\sas\format\lib';proc library ...;

To store formats in a permanent catalog, you first write a LIBNAME statement to associate the libref with the SAS data library in which the catalog will be stored. Then add the LIB= (or LIBRARY=) option to the PROC FORMAT statement, specifying the name of the catalog.

Explanation

To store formats in a permanent catalog, you first write a LIBNAME statement to associate the libref with the SAS data library in which the catalog will be stored. Then add the LIB= (or LIBRARY=) option to the PROC FORMAT statement, specifying the name of the catalog.

5. When creating a format with the VALUE statement, the format's new name

cannot end with a number
cannot end with a period
cannot be the name of a SAS format, and...

Cannot be the name of a data set variable.

Must be at least two characters long.

Must be at least eight characters long.

Must begin with a dollar sign ($) if used with a character variable.

The name of a format that is created with a VALUE statement must begin with a dollar sign ($) if it applies to a character variable.

Explanation

The name of a format that is created with a VALUE statement must begin with a dollar sign ($) if it applies to a character variable.

6. The format JOBFMT was created in a FORMAT procedure. Which FORMAT statement will apply to the variable JobTitle in the program output?

Format jobtitle jobfmt;

Format jobtitle jobfmt.;

Format jobtitle=jobfmt;

Format jobtitle='jobfmt';

To associate a user-defined format with a variable, place a period at the end of the format name when it is used in the FORMAT statement.

Explanation

To associate a user-defined format with a variable, place a period at the end of the format name when it is used in the FORMAT statement.

7. Which of these is false? Ranges in the VALUE statement can specify...

A single value such as 24 or 's'.

A range of numeric values, such as 0-1500.

A range of character values, such as 'A'-'M'.

A list of numeric and character values separated by commas, such as 90,'B','D',270.

You can list values separated by commas, but the list must contain either all numeric or character.

Explanation

You can list values separated by commas, but the list must contain either all numeric or character.

8. You can place the FORMAT statement in either a DATA step or a PROC step. What happens when you place it in a DATA step?

You temporarily associate the formats with variables.

You permanently associate the formats with variables.

You replace the original data with the format labels.

You make the formats available to other data sets.

By placing the FORMAT statement in a DATA step, you permanently associate the defined format with variables.

Explanation

By placing the FORMAT statement in a DATA step, you permanently associate the defined format with variables.

9. Which keyword can be used to label missing numeric values as well as any values that are not specified in the range?

LOW

MISS

MISSING

OTHER

MISS and MISSING are invalid keywords, and LOW does not include missing numeric values. The keyword OTHER can be used in the VALUE statement to label missing values as well as any values that are not specifically included in a range.

Explanation

MISS and MISSING are invalid keywords, and LOW does not include missing numeric values. The keyword OTHER can be used in the VALUE statement to label missing values as well as any values that are not specifically included in a range.

10. Which keyword, when added to the PROC FORMAT statement, will display all the formats in your catalog?

CATALOG

LISTFMT

FMTCAT

FMTLIB

Adding the keyword FMTLIB to the PROCFORMAT statement displays a list of all the formats in your catalog, along with descriptions of their values

Explanation

Adding the keyword FMTLIB to the PROCFORMAT statement displays a list of all the formats in your catalog, along with descriptions of their values