specifies a variable
that is expressed as a scalar or as an array reference.
Restriction
You 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=;