topic Writing data to a csv file without spaces in SAS Programming

Writing data to a csv file without spaces

deleted_user — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:14:23 GMT

How do I write data to a semicolon sepr. file with no spaces before the semicolon?

the code (example)

data _null_
file "c:\temp\file.csv";
set sashelp.class;
put name';'sex ';'age;
run;

gives the result (please notice the spaces before the semicolon)

Alfred ;M ;14
Alice ;F ;13
Barbara ;F ;13
Carol ;F ;14
Henry ;M ;14

Should it alle be put in to a compressed string or what?
The case is complicated by the fact that char.vars should be in quotes in the output as in this example (but still with no spaces):

"Alfred" ;"M" ;14
"Alice" ;"F" ;13
"Barbara" ;"F" ;13
"Carol" ;"F" ;14
"Henry" ;"M" ;14

Re: Writing data to a csv file without spaces

GertNissen — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:05:46 GMT

Try
[pre]
data _null_;
set sashelp.class;
file "c:\temp\file.csv" dsd;
put name +(-1) ';' sex +(-1) ';' age;
run;
[/pre]

Re: Writing data to a csv file without spaces

deleted_user — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:35:55 GMT

Thanks,

The lesson must be "RTFM" :-))

Re: Writing data to a csv file without spaces

deleted_user — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:22:22 GMT

Geniz is right but not making full use of SAS. Try

data _null_;
set sashelp.class;
file "c:\temp\file.csv" dsd dlm=";" ;
put name sex age;
run;

SAS allows you to specify the delimitter to use with the DSD. Makes life very easy.