A format is an instruction
that FedSQL uses to write data values. You use formats to control
the written appearance of data values, or, in some cases, to group
data values together for analysis. For example, the ROMANw. format,
which converts numeric values to roman numerals, writes the numeric
value 2013 as MMXIII.
When you create a SAS
data set, SPD Engine data set, SPD Server table, or SASHDAT file with
FedSQL, formatting instructions can be stored with the data set,
and automatically applied by the SAS Output Delivery System when the
data set is displayed in a Base SAS session. Formats must be explicitly
specified in the PUT function for the other SAS/ACCESS engines, because
the data source drivers do not store information about formats and
informats.