topic Re: SAS Programming 1: Essentials, Lesson 2 accessing data in New SAS User

SAS Programming 1: Essentials, Lesson 2 accessing data

AJS1 — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 22:03:05 GMT

I am confused to why I got this quiz question incorrect (I chose "a" but the correct answer is "b"):

9. What does this code do?

proc import datafile="d:/collect817/bird_count.csv"
            dbms=csv out=bird817 replace;
run;

a. It creates a SAS data set named bird817 in the work library from the CSV file bird_count and replaces bird817 whenever the CSV file is updated.

b. It creates a SAS data set named bird817 in the work library from the CSV file bird_count.

c. It uses the CSV engine to directly read the data file bird_count.csv.

Re: SAS Programming 1: Essentials, Lesson 2 accessing data

novinosrin — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 22:07:49 GMT

HI @AJS1 The tricky part is "whenever the CSV file is updated."

Proc import doesn't have the artificial intelligence to know when a CSV file is updated however when and everytime it is executed, it creates a file as named. So B is straight to the point.

Plus the replace is merely overwrite feature.

Re: SAS Programming 1: Essentials, Lesson 2 accessing data

ballardw — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 22:07:56 GMT

@AJS1 wrote:

I am confused to why I got this quiz question incorrect (I chose "a" but the correct answer is "b"):

9. What does this code do?
proc import datafile="d:/collect817/bird_count.csv"
            dbms=csv out=bird817 replace;
run;
a. It creates a SAS data set named bird817 in the work library from the CSV file bird_count and replaces bird817 whenever the CSV file is updated.

b. It creates a SAS data set named bird817 in the work library from the CSV file bird_count.

c. It uses the CSV engine to directly read the data file bird_count.csv.

The key different in this case is the clause "whenever the CSV file is updated.". Since the Proc Import would need to be rerun when the CSV file is updated then that makes A incorrect.

Re: SAS Programming 1: Essentials, Lesson 2 accessing data

AJS1 — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 22:12:19 GMT

Thank you!