SAS v7-9 Value Labels
GenStat supports the import of SAS value labels for SAS v7-9 files. SAS,
unlike other systems, stores value labels as custom "formats," in a separate
"catalogue" file. This file is usually named as "formats.sas7bcat",
and by default is stored in a SAS user library in a separate location
to the SAS data file. Alternatively, rather than reading directly form the
catalogue file, you can create a value label
file using SAS itself. This file contains the same information as the catalogue file,
but is in a more portable format for GenStat to read. When opening the SAS file you will
be prompted for the catalogue or value label file. Answer Yes to the query "Do you
want to specify a PROC FORMAT file for the dataset?" if you have created this
file for the value labels or have a catalogue file. If you respond with "Yes", it will
then prompt for a catalogue file or a file containing the value labels created with the
PROC FORMAT statement (as
below). By default, it will look for a file formats.sas7bcat in the same directory
as the input file. The selected file will be used to transfer your variable labels.
Creating a File with the PROC FORMAT Statement
To create a file for GenStat to use for reading your SAS value labels, you
will need to go into SAS and run the following small program:
libname mylib '<path to SAS file>';
proc format library = mylib cntlout = mylib.sas_fmts;
run;
where '<path to SAS file>' is the directory that contains your input data file.
This procedure creates a SAS file in the directory '<path to SAS file>' that has
the format information for each SAS data file. In this case, the file will have
the name sas_fmts.sas7bdat and it will be found in the same directory as the
input file.
Restrictions on Importing Value Labels
SAS catalogue files not only support conventional value labels (the one-to-one
mapping of a string to a single number), but also the mapping of a range of
numeric values to a single string (for example, zip code mapped to state).
However, GenStat will only import conventional one-to-one value labels from SAS.
See Also
Import or Export Data in Other Formats
Load Data From Files
Add Data to a Spreadsheet
File New - Spreadsheet