Statistical Analysis System (SAS) Programming Certification Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The correct formulation for applying the format is indeed the one that uses a period after the format name. This is essential because, in the SAS programming language, formats are often defined with a period (.) to denote the end of the format name. This signals to SAS that it should apply the specified format to the variable.

In this case, if "jobfmt" is a user-defined format or a built-in format in your SAS environment, "jobtitle" will correctly take on the formatting rules associated with "jobfmt." The inclusion of the period is not just a formality; it assures SAS that it is dealing specifically with a format and avoids ambiguities that might arise if formats are used without the period.

The other choices do not correctly follow the syntax required by SAS. For instance, omitting the period does not provide the necessary clarity about the type being indicated, while using equal signs or quotations is not aligned with how formats are applied to variables in SAS. Thus, understanding this syntax is crucial for effective variable formatting in your data manipulations in SAS.