Date:         Thu, 8 Nov 2007 16:28:12 -0500
Reply-To:     Michael Raithel <michaelraithel@WESTAT.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Michael Raithel <michaelraithel@WESTAT.COM>
Subject:      Re: input or list question on reading in a text file?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear SAS-L-ers,

Jerry L Diebal posted the following:

> I have a file that has data like what is in the cards datastep below:
> /**********************************/
> data test;
>    input datastuff $ ;
>    keep  datastuff ;
> cards;
>       111111-911
>       000111111
>       000038
>       NAME OF CITY
>       2
>       0
>       10/31/2007
>       28
>       C45
>
>       222222-911
>       000222222
>       000038
>       NAME OF CITY
>       2
>       0
>       10/31/2007
>       28
>       C46
>
>       333333-911
>       000333333
>       000038
>       NAME OF CITY
>       2
>       0
>       10/31/2007
>       28
>       C47
> ;
> /*********************************************/
>
> Each record consists of 9 lines like in the sample and each is
> separated by a blank line. The leading zeroes need to be retained on
> any variable starting with a zero. Can someone show me how to turn the

> above into a dataset? Thanks in advance.
>

Jerry,

Check out this TESTED program.  It should get you pretty close to where
you need to go!

data test(drop=blankline);

input   #1 @7 mixedline $16.
          #2    allnums1
          #3    allnums2
          #4 @7 nameofcity $12.
          #5    allnums3
          #6    allnums4
          #7 @7 bigdate mmddyy10.
          #8    allnums5
          #9 @7 mixedline2 $3.
          #10 blankline $ 1.
          ;

format allnums1 z9.
           allnums2 z6.
           bigdate mmddyy10.
                ;

datalines;
      111111-911
      000111111
      000038
      NAME OF CITY
      2
      0
      10/31/2007
      28
      C45

      222222-911
      000222222
      000038
      NAME OF CITY
      2
      0
      10/31/2007
      28
      C46

      333333-911
      000333333
      000038
      NAME OF CITY
      2
      0
      10/31/2007
      28
      C47

;
run;

proc print;
run;

Jerry, best of luck reading that odd data set into SAS!

I hope that this suggestion proves helpful now, and in the future!

Of course, all of these opinions and insights are my own, and do not
reflect those of my organization or my associates. All SAS code and/or
methodologies specified in this posting are for illustrative purposes
only and no warranty is stated or implied as to their accuracy or
applicability. People deciding to use information in this posting do so
at their own risk.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Michael A. Raithel
"The man who wrote the book on performance"
E-mail: MichaelRaithel@westat.com

Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the MVS Environment

Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the OS/390 and z/OS Environments,
Second Edition

http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=58172

Author: The Complete Guide to SAS Indexes

http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=60409

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ice is forming on the tips of my wings
Unheeded warnings. I thought I thought of everything - Pink Floyd
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++