VFORMATX Function

Returns the format that is associated with the value of the specified argument.

Category: Variable Information

Syntax

VFORMATX (expression)

Required Argument

expression

specifies a character constant, variable, or expression that evaluates to a variable name.

Restriction The value of the specified expression cannot denote an array reference.

Details

If the VFORMATX 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.
VFORMATX 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, length, and type, among others. For a list, see the Variable Information functions in SAS Functions and CALL Routines by Category.

Example

The following SAS statements produce these results.
SAS Statement
Result 
array x(3) x1-x3;
format x1 best6.;
format x2 20.10;
array vx(3) $6 vx1 vx2 vx3
   ('x1' 'x2' 'x3');
y=vformatx(vx(1));
z=vformatx(vx(2));
put y=;
put z=;
 
y=BEST6.
z=F20.10

See Also

Functions:
Variable Information functions inSAS Functions and CALL Routines by Category
Copyright © SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.