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

is useful when you want to use list input to read data records in which a character

other than a blank separates data values.

INPUT variable <&><$>;

reads the input data record using list input. The & (ampersand format modifier)

enables character values to contain embedded blanks. When you use the ampersand

format modifier, two blanks are required to signal the end of a data value. The $

indicates a character variable.

INPUT variable start-column <– end-column>;

reads the input data record using column input. You can omit end-column if the data

is only 1 byte long. This style of input enables you to skip columns of data that you

want to omit.

INPUT variable : informat;

INPUT variable & informat;

reads the input data record using modified list input. The : (colon format modifier)

instructs SAS to use the informat that follows to read the data value. The &

(ampersand format modifier) instructs SAS to use the informat that follows to read

the data value. When you use the ampersand format modifier, two blanks are

required to signal the end of a data value.

INPUT <pointer-control> variable informat;

reads raw data using formatted input. The informat supplies special instructions to

read the data. You can also use a pointer-control to direct SAS to start reading at a

particular column.

The syntax given above for the three styles of input shows only one variable. Subsequent

variables in the INPUT statement might be described in the same input style as the first

one. You can use any of the three styles of input (list, column, and formatted) in a single

INPUT statement.

Column-Pointer Controls

@n

moves the pointer to the nth column in the input buffer.

+n

moves the pointer forward n columns in the input buffer.

/

moves the pointer to the next line in the input buffer.

#n

moves the pointer to the nth line in the input buffer.

Learning More

Advanced features

For some more advanced data-reading features, see Chapter 5, “Starting with Raw

Data: Beyond the Basics,” on page 71.

Character-delimited data

For more information about reading data that is delimited by a character other than a

blank space, see the DELIMITER= option in “INFILE Statement” in SAS

Statements: Reference.

Learning More 69

Pointer controls

For a complete discussion and listing of column-pointer controls, line-pointer

controls, and line-hold specifiers, see SAS Statements: Reference.

Types of input

For more information about the INPUT statement, see “INPUT Statement” in SAS

Statements: Reference.

70 Chapter 4 • Starting with Raw Data: The Basics