INFORMAT

INFORMAT

Assigns a SAS informat to a SYSTEM 2000 item

Optional statement

Applies to: access descriptor and view descriptor

Syntax
Details

Syntax

INFORMAT variable-identifier<=> SAS-informat-name <...variable-identifier-n<=> SAS-informat-name-n>;

Details

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.

You cannot specify the INFORMAT statement for a record.

The variable-identifier argument can be one of the following:

current SAS variable name for the item
Note: Any name on the lefthand 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 use the item number or component number (C-number) on the lefthand side of the equal sign.
positional equivalent, which is the number that represents the item, as given by the LIST statement
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, issue the following statement:

informat 2 DATE7.;

You can only use the INFORMAT statement with a view descriptor if the ASSIGN statement in the access descriptor from which it is derived is specified with the NO value. 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.

INF is an alias for the INFORMAT statement.

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Optional statement
Applies to:	access descriptor and view descriptor