Formatting Numbers with the PUT Function in SAS

 📌 Introduction

In SAS programming, presenting data in a readable and meaningful way is essential—especially in reports and dashboards. That’s where the PUT function becomes a powerful tool. This function allows you to convert numeric or date values into formatted character strings, making your output more user-friendly.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

• What the PUT function does
• Syntax and usage
• Examples using numeric, date, and categorical formats
• Real-world applications
• Tips & best practices

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🧠 What is the PUT Function in SAS?

The PUT function in SAS is used to:

• Convert numeric or date values to character values
• Apply a specific format such as currency, date, percent, or custom user-defined formats

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🧾 Syntax

PUT(source, format.)

• source: The variable or value you want to format
• format: A SAS format (e.g., dollar8.2, date9., percent6.2, etc.)

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🔍 Common Use Cases of PUT Function

✅ 1. Format Numeric to Currency

data currency_format;
  amount = 12345.678;
  formatted_amt = put(amount, dollar10.2); /* $12,345.68 */
run;

✅ 2. Convert Date to Readable Format

data date_format;
  raw_date = '01jan2024'd;
  formatted_date = put(raw_date, date9.); /* 01JAN2024 */
run;

✅ 3. Convert Numeric Code to Label using Format

Assume we have a user-defined format for regions:

proc format;
  value regionfmt
    1 = 'North'
    2 = 'South'
    3 = 'East'
    4 = 'West';
run;

data region_label;
  region_code = 2;
  region_name = put(region_code, regionfmt.);
run;

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🧪 Real-Life Example: Sales Report Formatting

Suppose you're generating a report with sales data:

data sales;
  id = 101;
  sale_amount = 24999.5;
  sale_date = '15feb2024'd;

  formatted_amt = put(sale_amount, dollar12.2);
  formatted_date = put(sale_date, worddate18.);
run;

📌 Output:

• formatted_amt = $24,999.50
• formatted_date = February 15, 2024

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💡 Best Practices

• Always ensure the width in the format is large enough for your values, or it may display *****.
• Use PUT only to convert to character values. For character to numeric, use INPUT.
• Pair PUT with user-defined formats for readable labels in reports and visualizations.

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❗ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Why It's a Problem
Using PUT on a character value	Won’t change the format — use INPUT to convert first
Not specifying enough width	Results in truncated or ***** output
Forgetting to end format with a dot (.)	Syntax error in SAS

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🏁 Conclusion

The PUT function is a fundamental tool in SAS for formatting your output—whether it's turning raw numbers into currency, making dates human-readable, or converting codes into labels.

By mastering this function, you’ll significantly improve the clarity and professionalism of your SAS reports.