PICTURE Perfect: In Depth Look at the PICTURE Format

摘要

SAS PICTURE format is a very powerful tool. The different options allow the display of data in a more picturesque manner adding symbols, qualifiers, and comments to the data points without modifying the data. With a PICTURE format one can create a series of templates for displaying the data. The PICTURE format even allows the user to generate their own date and time formats. In addition to the options available with the VALUE formats, PICTURE format has options such as DATATYPE, NOEDIT, PREFIX, MULTIPLIER, and FILL. With its multitude of options, the PICTURE format is very impressive, but it can also be confusing. It is not always clear how different options will interact. If not carefully applied, the PICTURE format can produce misleading information. This presentation will look at the structure and the options available, removing some of the mystery of the PICTURE format and revealing a powerful formatting tool.