Date:         Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:22:42 -0700
Reply-To:     "Mogens A. Krogh" <MKROGH@DSR.KVL.DK>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Mogens A. Krogh" <MKROGH@DSR.KVL.DK>
Organization: http://groups.google.com
Subject:      Re: Reading delimited data on multiple lines
Comments: To: sas-l@uga.edu
In-Reply-To:  <1176910181.653632.14580@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Dear Don,
Try to take a look at this. The idea is that each complete line should
have 4 delimiters. You can now read the string_ok variable whit the
scan-function. It can most likely be done a lot 'nicer' but this would
be my quick solution to this.

Regards
Mogens A. Krogh
www.life.ku.dk

DATA NOTOK (keep=string_ok);
length string_part $25.;
INFILE DATALINES DLM="#" DSD;
INPUT string $40.;

if length(compress(string,'#','k'))=4 then string_ok=string;

if flag=1 & length(compress(string,'#','k'))<4 then do;
        string_ok=compbl(string_part || string);
        flag=0;
end;
if length(compress(string,'#','k'))<4 then do;
        string_part=string;
        string=' ';
        flag=1;
end;
retain flag string_part;
if string_ok ne ' ' then output;
DATALINES;
1#2#HELLO KIDDO##8
3#4#GOODBYE
KIDDO#9#7
5#6#MAMA WINS##
;
run;