Date:         Fri, 1 Sep 2006 14:13:53 -0400
Reply-To:     Dianne Rhodes <diannerhodes@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Dianne Rhodes <diannerhodes@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      format from cntlin dataset

One of my colleagues is developing code to create a format for all of the
valid values on the mainframe, and assign it a numeric key, starting with
one.   To eliminate noise, she wants to get rid of everything that doesn't
match her format.  She wrote this code, but the results were not as
expected.  We expected one good value and one bad value, but instead both
values passed the format.  Take a look.  I know its Friday and you were
looking for OT Friday humor, but I think its important to be aware of this
problem.

Here's the code - you can run it yourself.  Version 9.1.3  I've solved the
problem and when you all finish wrassling with it I'll explain.

data item_code_sid_map;
  length mf_item_code $13.
         item_sid 8;
  mf_item_code = '1311--AD13I01';
  item_sid = 1;
run;

DATA ITEM_REF ;
SET item_code_sid_map;
LENGTH start end $13 ;
fmtname='ITEMS';
type='C';
start=mf_item_code;
end=start;
label=item_sid;
RUN;

PROC format cntlin=ITEM_REF;
RUN;

data item;
  length item_code $13.
        ;
  item_code = '1311--AC13I99'; output;
  item_code = '1311--AD13I01'; output;
run;

data item_w_sid item_err;
  set item;
  item_sid = input(put(item_code, $items.),best.) ;
  if missing(item_sid) then
    output item_err;
  else
    output item_w_sid;
run;

proc print data=item_w_sid;
run;

and Here's the results...
27
28         data item_w_sid item_err;
29           set item;
30           item_sid = input(put(item_code, $items.),best.) ;
31           if missing(item_sid) then
32             output item_err;
33           else
34             output item_w_sid;
35         run;

NOTE: There were 2 observations read from the data set WORK.ITEM.
NOTE: The data set WORK.ITEM_W_SID has 2 observations and 2 variables.
NOTE: The data set WORK.ITEM_ERR has 0 observations and 2 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.09 seconds
      cpu time            0.00 seconds


Thanks!

Dianne Rhodes @ bls