In article <%c0r2.39$lp.107678@newshog.newsread.com>, First Last <ed.mccaney@astramerck.com> writes >Is there a way to delete an existing format? When using proc format to >modify an existing format (via cntlin= option) a warning is generated >stating that the format is already on the library. Looking for a way to >avoid this warning message. Thanks. > >ed.mccaney@astramerck.com > > If you are using format search path to support multiple format catalogs, this problem becomes a little more complex. The core of the solution is simple

>>>first set up a test format 2807 proc format library=work; 2808 value t .='missing'; NOTE: Format T has been output. 2809 run;

NOTE: The PROCEDURE FORMAT used 0.0 seconds.

>>>then prove the warning message 2810 proc format library=work; 2811 value t .='missing'; WARNING: Format T is already on the library. NOTE: Format T has been output. 2812 run;

NOTE: The PROCEDURE FORMAT used 0.0 seconds.

>>>now delete that test format 2813 proc catalog c=work.formats; 2814 delete t.format; 2815 run;

NOTE: Deleting object T.FORMAT in catalog WORK.FORMATS.

NOTE: The PROCEDURE CATALOG used 0.05 seconds.

>>>show the message won't return when that format name is reused 2816 proc format library=work; 2817 value t .='missing'; NOTE: Format T has been output. 2818 run;

NOTE: The PROCEDURE FORMAT used 0.0 seconds.

Before deleting it, you will have to uncover the catalog in which the format is present, subject to the rules of format-search-path

-- Peter Crawford