diff --git a/docs/formats.md b/docs/formats.md index 6577c9c..2283a84 100644 --- a/docs/formats.md +++ b/docs/formats.md @@ -1,23 +1,21 @@ --- layout: article title: API -description: Viewing and Modifying SAS Formats in Data Controller +description: Viewing and Modifying SAS Format Catalogs in Data Controller --- # Formats -SAS Formats are stored in Catalogs, and are used for in-memory lookup operations. Some formats are available by default, others (custom formats) are maintained seperately. - -Using Data Controller to manage formats avoids the need to maintain 'CNTLIN' datasets seperately to the main catalog. +Data Controller allows formats to be viewed and edited directly from the web interface - avoiding the need to create and maintain parallel 'CNTLIN' datasets. Formats are displayed with a special icon (`bolt`), in the same library as other tables (in both the VIEW and EDIT screens): -![formats](https://i.imgur.com/rnQOLlv.png) +![formats](img/formats.png) Viewing or editing a format catalog will always mean that the entire catalog is exported, before being filtered (if filters applied) and displayed. For this reason, it is recommended to split a large format catalog over several catalogs, if performance is a consideration. The usual export mechanisms can also be applied - you can downlad the DDL, or export the catalog in CSV / Excel / Datalines formats. -When adding a format to MPE_TABLES, the `DSN` should contain the format catalog name plus a `-FC` extension. The LOADTYPE should be `FORMAT_CAT` and the BUSKEY should be `FMTNAME START`. HOOK scripts can also be applied (run some DQ after an edit, or re-run a batch job after an approval). +When adding a format to MPE_TABLES, the `DSN` should contain the format catalog name plus a `-FC` extension. The LOADTYPE should be `FORMAT_CAT` and the BUSKEY should be `FMTNAME START`. HOOK scripts can also be applied (ie, run some DQ after an edit, or re-run a batch job after an approval). -Just like regular table edits, all changes may also be logged in the `MPE_AUDIT` table. \ No newline at end of file +Just like regular table edits, all changes to formats may also be logged in the `MPE_AUDIT` table. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/docs/img/formats.png b/docs/img/formats.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..38ed0ba Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/img/formats.png differ