VFORMATNX Function

Returns the format name that is associated with the value of the specified argument.

Category: Variable Information

Syntax

VFORMATNX (expression)

Required Argument

expression

specifies a character constant, variable, or expression that evaluates to a variable name.

Restriction The value of the specified expression cannot denote an array reference.

Details

If the VFORMATNX 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.
VFORMATNX returns only the format name, which does not include the length or the period (for example, $CHAR).

Comparisons

  • VFORMATN returns the format name that is associated with the specified variable. VFORMATNX, however, evaluates the argument to determine the variable name. The function then returns the format name that is associated with that variable name.
  • VFORMATN does not accept an expression as an argument. VFORMATNX 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, length, and type, 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 
array x(3) x1-x3;
format x1 best6.;
array vx(3) $6 vx1 vx2 vx3
   ('x1' 'x2' 'x3');
y=vformatnx(vx(1));
put y=;
 
y=BEST

See Also

Functions:
Variable Information functions in SAS Functions and CALL Routines by Category
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