specifies a variable
that is expressed as a scalar or as an array reference.
Restriction
You cannot use an expression as an argument.
Details
If the VFORMAT function
returns a value to a variable that has not yet been assigned a length,
by default the variable is assigned a length of 200.
VFORMAT returns the
complete format name, which includes the width and the period (for
example, $CHAR20.).
Comparisons
VFORMAT returns the format that
is associated with the specified variable. VFORMATX, however, evaluates
the argument to determine the variable name. The function then returns
the format that is associated with that variable name.
VFORMAT does not accept an expression
as an argument. VFORMATX accepts expressions, but the value of the
specified expression cannot denote an array reference.
Related functions return the value
of other variable attributes, such as the variable name, type, length,
among others. For a list, see the Variable Information functions in SAS Functions and CALL Routines by Category.
Example
The following SAS statements
produce this result.
SAS Statement
Result
array x(3) x1-x3;
format x1 best6.;
y=vformat(x(1));
put y=;