Option input sas

Scans the input data record for input values and assigns them to the corresponding SAS variables. This format modifier reads the value from the next non-blank column until the pointer reaches two consecutive blanks, the defined length of the variable, or the end of the input line, whichever comes first. For a character variable, this format modifier reads the value from the next non-blank column until the pointer reaches the next blank column, the defined length of the variable, or the end of the data line, whichever comes first.

For a numeric variable, this format modifier reads the value from the next non-blank column until the pointer reaches the next blank column or the end of the data line, whichever comes first. Reading Delimited Data with Modified List Input. This format modifier reads delimiters within quoted character values as characters instead of as delimiters and retains the quotation marks when the value is written to a variable.

This line-hold specifier is called trailing. This line-hold specifier is called double trailing. Previous Page Next Page. INPUT Statement, List Scans the input data record for input values and assigns them to the corresponding SAS variables.

Reading Unaligned Data with Simple List Input. Reading Character Data That Contains Embedded Blanks. Reading Unaligned Data with Informats. Reading Comma-Delimited Data with List Input and an Informat.

Arguments pointer-control moves the input pointer to a specified line or column in the input buffer. See Column Pointer Controls and Line Pointer Controls Example Reading Character Data That Contains Embedded Blanks. Example Reading Unaligned Data with Simple List Input. See Modified List Input Example Reading Character Data That Contains Embedded Blanks.

Tips If the length of the variable has not been previously defined, then its value is read and stored with the informat length.

The pointer continues to read until the next blank column is reached. However, if the field is longer than the formatted length, then the value is truncated to the length of variable. See Modified List Input Examples Reading Unaligned Data with Informats Reading Delimited Data with Modified List Input. Restriction You must use the DSD option in an INFILE statement. Otherwise, the INPUT statement ignores this option. See Modified List Input Example Reading Delimited Data with Modified List Input.

Tip Decimal points in the actual input values always override decimal specifications in a numeric informat. See SAS Informats in SAS Formats and Informats: Reference Examples Reading Unaligned Data with Informats Reading Delimited Data with Modified List Input. Restriction The trailing must be the last item in the INPUT statement. Tip The trailing prevents the next INPUT statement from automatically releasing the current input record and reading the next record into the input buffer. It is useful when you need to read from a record multiple times.

See Using Line-Hold Specifiers.

Restriction The double trailing must be the last item in the INPUT statement. Tip The double trailing is useful when each input line contains values for several observations. Details When to Use List Input. When to Use List Input List input requires that you specify the variable names in the INPUT statement in the same order that the fields appear in the input data records.

SAS scans the data line to locate the next value but ignores additional intervening blanks. List input does not require that the data are located in specific columns. However, you must separate each value from the next by at least one blank unless the delimiter between values is changed.

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By default, the delimiter for data values is one blank space or the end of the input record. List input does not skip over any data values to read subsequent values, but it can ignore all values after a given point in the data record.

However, pointer controls enable you to change the order that the data values are read. There are two types of list input: Modified list input makes the INPUT statement more versatile because you can use a format modifier to overcome several of the restrictions of simple list input.

See Modified List Input. Simple List Input Simple list input places several restrictions on the type of data that the INPUT statement can read: By default, at least one blank must separate the input values. Represent each missing value with a period, not a blank, or two adjacent delimiters. Character input values cannot be longer than 8 bytes unless the variable is given a longer length in an earlier LENGTH, ATTRIB, or INFORMAT statement. Character values cannot contain embedded blanks unless you change the delimiter.

Data must be in standard numeric or character format. Modified List Input List input is more versatile when you use format modifiers. The format modifiers are as follows:. For example, use the: Because list input interprets a blank as a delimiter, use modified list input to read values that contain blanks. However, the data values must be separated by two or more blanks. See Reading Delimited Data with Modified List Input.

If your input data use blanks as delimiters and they contain leading, trailing, or embedded blanks, you might need to use either column input or formatted input. If quotation marks surround the delimited values, you can use list input with the DSD option in the INFILE statement.

Comparisons How Modified List Input and Formatted Input Differ.

Dates, Times, and Intervals : SAS Date, Time, and Datetime Values

Modified list input has a scanning feature that can use informats to read data which are not aligned in columns. Formatted input causes the pointer to move like that of column input to read a variable value.

The pointer moves the length that is specified in the informat and stops at the next column. This DATA step uses modified list input to read the first data value and formatted input to read the second: The value of ITEM is read with modified list input. The INPUT statement stops reading when the pointer finds a blank space. The pointer then moves to the second column after the end of the field, which is the correct position to read the AMOUNT value with formatted input.

Formatted input, on the other hand, continues to read the entire width of the field. This INPUT statement uses formatted input to read both data values: To read this data correctly with formatted input, the second data value must occur after the 10 th column of the first value, as shown here: When Data Contains Quotation Marks.

When you use the DSD option in an INFILE statement, which sets the delimiter to a comma, the INPUT statement removes quotation marks before a value is written to a variable.

Reading Unaligned Data with Simple List Input The INPUT statement in this DATA step uses simple list input to read the input data records: The next INPUT statement reads only the first four fields in the previous data lines, which demonstrates that you are not required to read all the fields in the record: It can read these input data records: Because this format modifier follows NAME, at least two blanks must separate the NAME field from the SCORE field in the input data records.

You can also specify an informat with a format modifier, as shown here: In addition, this INPUT statement reads the same data to demonstrate that you are not required to read all the values in an input record. Reading Unaligned Data with Informats This DATA step uses modified list input to read data values with an informat: The example uses an informat to read the date, and a format to write the date. Output from Comma-Delimited Data.

The values for TEAM contain the quotation marks. See SAS Language Reference: Concepts for the information about standard and nonstandard data values. Previous Page Next Page Top of Page.

General Macros - Chris's SAS Macros

Column Pointer Controls and Line Pointer Controls. If the length of the variable has not been previously defined, then its value is read and stored with the informat length. Reading Unaligned Data with Informats Reading Delimited Data with Modified List Input. You must use the DSD option in an INFILE statement. Decimal points in the actual input values always override decimal specifications in a numeric informat. SAS Informats in SAS Formats and Informats: The trailing prevents the next INPUT statement from automatically releasing the current input record and reading the next record into the input buffer.

The double trailing must be the last item in the INPUT statement. The double trailing is useful when each input line contains values for several observations.