Step-by-Step Programming with Base SAS 9.4, Second Edition, 2nd Edition

Introduction to Raw Data

Purpose

To create a SAS data set from raw data, you must examine the data records first to

determine how the data values that you want to read are arranged. Then you can look at

the styles of reading input that are available in the INPUT statement. SAS provides three

basic input styles:

• list

• column

• formatted

You can use these styles individually, in combination with each other, or in conjunction

with various line-hold specifiers, line-pointer controls, and column-pointer controls. This

section demonstrates various ways of using the INPUT statement to turn your raw data

into SAS data sets.

You can enter the data directly in a DATA step or use an existing file of raw data. If your

data is machine readable, then you need to learn how to use those tools that enable SAS

to read them. If your data is not yet entered, then you can choose the input style that

enables you to enter the data most easily.

Prerequisites

Before continuing, you should understand the concepts presented in the following

sections:

• Chapter 1, “What is the SAS System?,” on page 3

• Chapter 3, “Introduction to DATA Step Processing,” on page 27

Examine the Structure of the Raw Data: Factors

to Consider

Before you can select the appropriate style of input, examine the structure of the raw

data that you want to read. Consider some of the following factors:

• how the data is arranged in the input records. For example, are data fields aligned in

columns or unaligned? Are they separated by blanks or by other characters?

• whether character values contain embedded blanks

• whether numeric values contain nonnumeric characters such as commas

• whether the data contains time or date values

• whether each input record contains data for more than one observation

• whether data for a single observation is spread over multiple input records

52 Chapter 4 • Starting with Raw Data: The Basics