flookup: Look Up argument in MSCDC format table

Format Lookup Utility Function

This application makes use of the Missouri Census Data Center's extensive collection of code lookup tables in the form of SAS(r) format codes. You can browse the format library using the MCDC / OSEDA uexplore web application to view the /pub/sasfmats directory. The Headlines file, containing the first 15 lines from each format code, can be used to get a quick overview of all the tables (formats).

In general the arugments are codes (e.g. FIPS state, place or county codes) and the results are names associated with those codes. So you can enter a code and get the name associated with that code returned. There is also an option to specify that you want to enter the result (usually the name of something) and have the code returned by the application. When doing this the leading colon and tilde modifiers may be very useful. (See the Notes following the argument entry box, below).

Enter argument:

Notes:

Entering a value of _all_ will result in all arguments and results for the specified format being displayed.
Use a leading colon (:) to indicate a "short compare" search (so that it returns a match if the value begins with the characters entered)
Use a leading tilde (~) to indicate a search for a string that just contains the value entered. So entering ~510 for the argument field says find any arguments that contain the string 510 anywhere within them.
You will get multiple result lines displayed if more than one format table entry matches.
The application is case insensitive.

Enter format code:

Most of the formats are character type, which in SAS is denoted by entering a leading $ as part of the format name. Here it is implied if you do not code it -- entering county is the same as entering $county.

Check here to do a "reverse lookup" (find the code(s) that go with the label). I.e. if the "argument" entered above is actually a label (format table result) and you want to see the codes that go with that label. Use this option to look up the FIPS code for Boston (for example).

For internal use only (debugging).

Web developers should note also that you can invoke this application without this web page front end so that it can be embedded in your own web applications. The URL is of the form
http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/sasweb/cgi-bin/broker? &_service=sasapp&_screen=yes_PROGRAM=websas.flookup.sas&arg=aaa&fmt=fff&_screen=yes|no&argresult=Y|N

Substitute the table-lookup argument for aaa and the format code (with or without the leading $) for fff. Specify a value of 'no' for the screen parameter when you want the result displayed directly with no header information. Include the argresult=Y spec to indicate that the argument is really the result and you need to do a reverse lookup.

Address questions or comments re this application to John Blodgett at OSEDA.

URL: http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/websas/flookup.html Last rev. 4/3/2006