ERROR: The format XXXX was not found or could not be loaded.
Whenever you try to open a SAS data set which has permanent formats, you will get the error message in the log file saying “ERROR: The format XXXX was not found or could not be loaded.” This happens generally when you don't have the format library where the SAS dataset located. What happens here is, SAS will not permit you to open the data set without the format library. But, if you use options nofmterr; at the top of your program, SAS will opens the dataset for you despite the fact that it does not have the format library. SAS doesn't treat missing format or informat as an error when the options nofmterr; statement used. The FMTERR\NOFMTERR option determines whether or not SAS generates an error message when a variable's format cannot be found. ( source: support.sas.com) The caveat here is, you will not be able to see the formatted values for your variables, but you will be able to open or use the dataset. OPTIONS nofmterr; *you will not be able to see th...