Are format statements permanently assigned to variables in a PROC step?

The answer indicates that format statements are temporarily assigned during a PROC step. In SAS, when you use format statements within a PROC step, the formats apply only to the data presented within that particular step. They are not permanently associated with the variables in the dataset.

This means that any formatting applied will only influence the output in that instance of the PROC step, such as controlling how values are displayed in tables or reports generated by procedures. Once the procedure completes, the dataset retains its original variable formats, and any subsequent steps will not reflect the temporary formatting applied during the PROC step unless formats are reapplied.

In SAS, permanent assignments of formats to variables are typically made in a DATA step, where formats can be defined as part of the dataset structure and will persist across different PROC steps and analyses. This understanding contributes to effective data management and presentation in SAS, emphasizing the distinction between temporary and permanent formatting practices within the framework of SAS coding.