topic Re: Using Format in Proc Import in New SAS User

Using Format in Proc Import

IrynaDemko — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 04:32:24 GMT

I want ParkName to have 30 characters in the proc import statement while Guessingrows sets it to 24. The log says that the format statement is not supported.

proc import datafile="s:\workshop\data\np_traffic.csv"
dbms = csv
out = pg1.traffic replace;
guessingrows=max;
format ParkName $30.;
run;

Thanks!

Re: Using Format in Proc Import

Shmuel — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 05:15:02 GMT

Copy the code generated by proc import from the log to the program editor

and make there all required adaptations as adding length, format and other

statements.

Re: Using Format in Proc Import

SASKiwi — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 05:41:58 GMT

It's possible you may need to add this before your PROC IMPORT code for the generated DATA step statements @Shmuel is referring to so that it shows in your SAS log:

options source;

Re: Using Format in Proc Import

ballardw — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 15:01:16 GMT

@IrynaDemko wrote:

I want ParkName to have 30 characters in the proc import statement while Guessingrows sets it to 24. The log says that the format statement is not supported.

proc import datafile="s:\workshop\data\np_traffic.csv"
dbms = csv
out = pg1.traffic replace;
guessingrows=max;
format ParkName $30.;
run;

Thanks!

The length of 24 is the longest value encountered in this data set for the variable.

Changing the forrmat only effects display. If there are only 24 characters that's all there are. You would have to change the

INFORMAT to get 30 as the length and you can't do that with Proc Import.

When you use Proc Import you are in effect telling SAS to follow some arbitrary generic rules for determining variable properties and those rules will get things other than desired sometimes (or often in the case of some file formats) and based on the actual values encountered. If you want to have consistent results for multiple sets then do not rely on Proc Import.

Re: Using Format in Proc Import

Tom — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 16:24:46 GMT

Note that changing the informat used to convert text into values would not change the length of the variable either.