A format is an instruction that the SAS System uses to determine how a variable value should be displayed. The SAS System provides a set of standard formats and also enables you to define your own custom formats. As an example of a SAS System-supplied format, the DOLLARw.d format displays the amount 1200 as $1,200.
User-defined formats can be used to label variable values and to group variable values. If a user-defined format is associated with a variable in a data set, SAS/LAB software will use that format for labeling and grouping. For information on creating and applying custom formats, see Chapter 8 of SAS Language and Procedures, Usage 2 and Chapter 18 of SAS Procedures Guide .
Many sites maintain format libraries for use by all SAS users at the site. Call your SAS Software Consultant for more information.