title: Compare variable format definition change
body: <p>I need to compare two data sets in terms of variable name, type, format, label (informat not provided in the data sets) in order to append and know the change across multiple years.</p>
  
  <p>I know the options are PROC COMPARE and SQL comparison. But I want to control the output of comparison (then, SQL is preferred), and I am concerned about any change in format definition. </p>
  
  <p>With SQL comparison, it's straightforward to compare variable name, type, label, variable format name.</p>
  
  <p>For the two data sets I want to compare, the variable formats are defined by PROC FORMAT, codes saved separately in text files. Is there a way to compare format definition? It seems SAS can save format definition in a permanent/work? table.  Is there a comparison available to compare format name, type, categories, variable the format is imposed on? </p>