DOCUMENTATION
Sign In

Get access to My SAS, trials, communities and more.

 

VINFORMAT Function

Returns the informat that is associated with the specified variable.

Categories:Variable Information
CAS
Restriction:Use only with the DATA step
Note:This function supports the VARCHAR type.
Table of Contents
Syntax
Required Argument
Details
Comparisons
Example

Syntax

VINFORMAT(variable)

Required Argument

variable

specifies a variable that is expressed as a scalar or as an array reference.

RestrictionYou cannot use an expression as an argument.

Details

If the VINFORMAT function returns a value to a variable that has not yet been assigned a length, by default the variable is assigned a length of 200.
VINFORMAT returns the complete informat name, which includes the width and the period (for example, $CHAR20.).

Comparisons

  • VINFORMAT returns the informat that is associated with the specified variable. VINFORMATX, however, evaluates the argument to determine the variable name. The function then returns the informat that is associated with that variable name.
  • VINFORMAT does not accept an expression as an argument. VINFORMATX accepts expressions, but the value of the specified expression cannot denote an array reference.
  • Related functions return the value of other variable attributes, such as the variable name, type, and length, among others. For a list, see the Variable Information functions in SAS Functions and CALL Routines by Category.

Example

The following SAS statements produce this result:
SAS Statement
Result
informat x $char6.;
input x;
y=vinformat(x);
put y=;
 
y=$CHAR6.
Copyright © SAS Institute Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated: March 16, 2017