SAS 9.4 Language Reference, 3rd Edition

Input Data Feature Goal Use

only part of each record LINESIZE=option in an

INFILE statement.

some but not all records in the file FIRSTOBS=and OBS=

options in an INFILE

statement; FIRSTOBS=

and OBS= system options;

#n line pointer control.

instream data lines control the reading with

special options

INFILE statement with

DATALINES and

appropriate options.

starting at a particular column @ column pointer

controls.

leading blanks maintain them $CHARw. informat in an

INPUT statement.

a delimiter other than blanks (with list input or modified list input

with the colon modifier)

DLM= or DLMSTR=

option, DSD option, or

both in an INFILE

statement.

the standard tab character DLM= or DLMSTR=

option in an INFILE

statement; or the

EXPANDTABS option in

an INFILE statement.

missing values (with list input or

modified list input with the colon

modifier)

create observations without

compromising data

integrity; protect data

integrity by overriding the

default behavior

TRUNCOVER option in

an INFILE statement;

DLM= or DLMSTR=

options, DSD option, or

both might also be

needed.

For further information about data-reading features, see the INPUT and INFILE

statements in SAS Statements: Reference.

How SAS Handles Invalid Data

An input value is invalid if it has any of the following characteristics:

• It requires an informat that is not specified.

• It does not conform to the informat specified.

• It does not match the input style used. An example is if it is read as standard numeric

data (no dollar sign or informat) but it does not conform to the rules for standard

SAS numbers.

• It is out of range (too large or too small).

418 Chapter 19 • Reading Raw Data