If you apply the NLPCTw.d format to a variable that contains missing values, garbage characters might be displayed in front of the missing values. This behavior occurs when you apply the format in PRINT and SQL procedures.

To circumvent the problem, assign the NLPCTw.d format in a DATA step.

Click the Full Code tab to see sample code that illustrates the problem and the circumvention.

Click the Hot Fix tab in this note to access the hot fix for this issue.

Operating System and Release Information

Product Family	Product	System	SAS Release
			Reported	Fixed*
SAS System	Base SAS	z/OS	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Z64	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Microsoft® Windows® for x64	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition	9.3 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition	9.3 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition	9.3 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for x64	9.3 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2008	9.3 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for x64	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Microsoft Windows XP Professional	9.3 TS1M0
		Windows 7 Enterprise 32 bit	9.3 TS1M0
		Windows 7 Enterprise x64	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit	9.3 TS1M0
		Windows 7 Home Premium x64	9.3 TS1M0
		Windows 7 Professional 32 bit	9.3 TS1M0
		Windows 7 Professional x64	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit	9.3 TS1M0
		Windows 7 Ultimate x64	9.3 TS1M0
		Windows Vista	9.3 TS1M0
		Windows Vista for x64	9.3 TS1M0
		64-bit Enabled AIX	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		64-bit Enabled HP-UX	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		64-bit Enabled Solaris	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		HP-UX IPF	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Linux	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Linux for x64	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0
		Solaris for x64	9.3 TS1M0	9.4 TS1M0

* For software releases that are not yet generally available, the Fixed Release is the software release in which the problem is planned to be fixed.

Garbage characters are not displayed in front of missing values when you assign the NLPCTw.d format with the DATA step. It does occur when you assign the format with PROC SQL and PROC PRINT.

---

/* Create a sample data set */
data a;
   input x;
   datalines;
.
.4
.0001
;
run;

/* Formatting with PROC SQL demonstrates the problem */
proc sql;
   select x format nlpct20.2
   from a;
quit;


/* Formatting with PROC PRINT demonstrates the problem */
proc print data=a;
   format x nlpct20.2;
run;


/* Applying the format inside the DATA step is a circumvention */
data a;
   input x;
   format x nlpct20.2;
   datalines;
.
.4
.0001
;
run;

    Results of PROC SQL                                       
                                                          

                  x
             
 ð              .
              40.00%
               0.01%
 

    Results of PROC PRINT                                      

 Obs                       x

  1     1              .
  2                   40.00%
  3                    0.01%



/* Data set in Viewtable view when DATA step applies the format */

    Obs                       x

  1                        .
  2                   40.00%
  3                    0.01%

                

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.3_M2 is available at:

https://tshf.sas.com/techsup/download/hotfix/HF2/I22.html#56608

---

Type:	Problem Note
Priority:	high
Topic:	SAS Reference ==> Formats ==> Numeric ==> NLPCT

Date Modified:	2015-09-18 16:37:27
Date Created:	2015-09-17 11:20:07