The default formats are not associated with variables in the data set but affect how the PUT statement writes the variables in the current DATA step.https://documentation.sas.com/?docsetId=lestmtsref&docsetTarget=n0d5oq7e0oia0wn13nsins0x8nmh.htm&docsetVersion=9.4&locale=en#p1d44ybffm0816n14fsuwc8rqu11
data tstfmt;
format W $char3.
Y 10.3
default=8.2 $char8.;
W='Good morning.';
X=12.1;
Y=13.2;
Z='Howdy-doody'; put W/X/Y/Z;
run;
proc contents data=tstfmt;
run;
proc print data=tstfmt;
run;