Functions and CALL Routines

VFORMATW Function

Returns the format width that is associated with the specified variable.

Category:

Variable Information

Syntax

VFORMATW (var)

var

specifies a variable that is expressed as a scalar or as an array reference.

Restriction:

You cannot use an expression as an argument.

VFORMATW returns the format width that is associated with the specified variable. VFORMATWX, however, evaluates the argument to determine the variable name. The function then returns the format width that is associated with that variable name.
VFORMATW does not accept an expression as an argument. VFORMATWX 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, and length, among others. For a list, see the "Variable Information" functions in Functions and CALL Routines by Category .

SAS Statements	Results
array x(3) x1-x3; format x1 best6.; y=vformatw(x(1)); put y=;	y=6