Statements

PUT Statement, Formatted

Writes variable values with the specified format in the output line.

Valid:	in a DATA step
Category:	File-handling
Type:	Executable

Syntax
Arguments
Details
	Using Formatted Output
	How to Group Variables and Formats
Examples
	Example 1: Writing a Character between Formatted Values
	Example 2: Overriding the Default Alignment of Formatted Values
	Example 3: Including More Format Specifications Than Necessary
See Also

The Formatted output describes the output lines by listing the variable names and the formats to use to write the values. You can use a SAS format or a user-written format to control how SAS prints the variable values. For a complete description of the SAS formats, see Definition of Formats.

With formatted output, the PUT statement uses the format that follows the variable name to write each value. SAS does not automatically add blanks between values. If the value uses fewer columns than specified, character values are left-aligned and numeric values are right-aligned in the field that is specified by the format width.

Formatted output, combined with pointer controls, makes it possible to specify the exact line and column location to write each variable. For example, this PUT statement uses the dollar7.2 format and centers the value of X starting at column 12:

put @12 x dollar7.2-c;

How to Group Variables and Formats

When you want to write values in a pattern on the output lines, use format lists to shorten your coding time. A format list consists of the corresponding formats separated by either blanks or commas and enclosed in parentheses. It must follow the names of the variables enclosed in parentheses.

For example, this statement uses a format list to write the five variables SCORE1 through SCORE5, one after another, using four columns for each value with no blanks in between:

put (score1-score5) (4. 4. 4. 4. 4.);

A shorter version of the previous statement is

put (score1-score5) (4.);

You can include any of the pointer controls (@, #, /, +, and OVERPRINT) in the list of formats, as well as n*, and a character string. You can use as many format lists as necessary in a PUT statement, but do not nest the format lists. After all the values in the variable list are written, the PUT statement ignores any directions that remain in the format list. For an example, see Including More Format Specifications Than Necessary.

You can also specify a reference to all elements in an array as (array-name {*}), followed by a list of formats. You cannot, however, specify the elements in a _TEMPORARY_ array in this way. This PUT statement specifies an array name and a format list:

put (array1{*}) (4.);

For more information about how to reference an array, see Arrays.

Examples

Example 1: Writing a Character between Formatted Values

This example formats some values and writes a - (hyphen) between the values of variables BLDG and ROOM:

data _null_;
   input name & $15. bldg $ room;
   put name @20 (bldg room) ($1. "-" 3.);
   datalines;
Bill Perkins  J 126
Sydney Riley  C 219
;

These lines are written to the SAS log:

Bill Perkins       J-126
Sydney Riley       C-219

Example 2: Overriding the Default Alignment of Formatted Values

This example includes an alignment specification in the format:

data _null_;
   input name $ 1-12 score1 score2 score3;
   put name $12.-r +3 score1 3. score2 3. 
       score3 4.;
   datalines;
Joseph                  11   32   76
Mitchel                 13   29   82
Sue Ellen               14   27   74
;

These lines are written to the log:

----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4
      Joseph    11 32  76
     Mitchel    13 29  82
   Sue Ellen    14 27  74

The value of the character variable NAME is right-aligned in the formatted field. (Left alignment is the default for character variables.)

Example 3: Including More Format Specifications Than Necessary

This format list includes more specifications than are necessary when the PUT statement executes:

data _null_;
   input x y z; 
   put (x y z) (2.,+1);
   datalines;
2 24 36
0 20 30
;

The PUT statement writes the value of X using the 2. format. Then, the +1 column pointer control moves the pointer forward one column. Next, the value of Y is written with the 2. format. Again, the +1 column pointer moves the pointer forward one column. Then, the value of Z is written with the 2. format. For the third iteration, the PUT statement ignores the +1 pointer control.

These lines are written to the SAS log: (footnote 1)

----+----1----+
2 24 36
0 20 30

See:	Column Pointer Controls and Line Pointer Controls
Featured in:	Writing a Character between Formatted Values

Requirement:	The (format-list) must follow the (variable-list).
See:	How to Group Variables and Formats
Featured in:	Writing a Character between Formatted Values

-L	left aligns the value.
-C	centers the value.
-R	right aligns the value.

Example:	This statement places a hyphen between the formatted values of CODE1, CODE2, and CODE3: put bldg $ (code1 code2 code3) (3. '-');
See:	Writing a Character between Formatted Values

Restriction:	The (format-list) must follow (variable-list).
See Also:	How to Group Variables and Formats

Restriction:	The trailing @ or double trailing @ must be the last item in the PUT statement.
See:	Using Line-Hold Specifiers