The INFORMAT statement changes a
SAS variable informat from its default informat; the default informat is based on the
database item's data type. You can enter as many informats as necessary using one INFORMAT
statement.
variable-identifier can
be one of the following:
-
the current SAS variable name for the item
Note: Any name on the left side
of the equal sign (=) must be a SAS name, not a SYSTEM 2000 name.
In an access descriptor, if the ASSIGN statement is omitted, you must
enter the item number or component number (C-number) on the left side
of the equal sign (=).
-
the positional equivalent, which
is the number that represents the item, as specified in the LIST statement
-
the SYSTEM 2000
C-number of the database item
For example, if you want to associate the DATE7. informat with the second item in
the
access descriptor, submit the following statement:
informat 2 DATE7.;
You can use only the INFORMAT statement with a
view descriptor if ASSIGN= NO in the access descriptor from which the
view is derived. When used for a view descriptor, the INFORMAT statement automatically
selects the reformatted item. That is, if you change the informat associated with
an item, you do not have to issue a SELECT statement for that item.
Note: You cannot specify the INFORMAT
statement for a record.