topic How to input blank char value in dataline in SAS Programming

How to input blank char value in dataline

Aexor — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 15:52:25 GMT

data country;
input country_ID  state $ country_name $;
datalines;

1 Texas Colin
. Texas Dallas
3  .     Deklab
;
run;

I have below dataset here if i am using " " in 3rd row , I am getting lost card error but if i am using "." Which we used for numeric missing value. I am getting the o/p. Please tell me Why this is happening

Re: How to input blank char value in dataline

Kurt_Bremser — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:20:59 GMT

Since you do not use an INFILE statement with the DSD option, a sequence of delimiters (blanks) will be read as one delimiter, causing a skip to the next dataline.

When using the default $w. informat, a single dot will also be interpreted as a missing character value.

Re: How to input blank char value in dataline

Aexor — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:25:01 GMT

Thanks !! Yes if we use infile then we can easily specify DSD .
I just wanted to confirm that while using default format for char variable we can use '.' or is there any way out for this ?

Re: How to input blank char value in dataline

Kurt_Bremser — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:29:32 GMT

Whenever I need to read missing values (or values containing blanks) from datalines, I use INFILE, DSD and DLM= with a suitable delimiter (comma, pipe, ...)