topic Re: Reading raw data set (The length of numeric variables is 3-8. ) in SAS Programming

Reading raw data set (The length of numeric variables is 3-8. )

tesu — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:13:33 GMT

I've got an error message: The length of numeric variables is 3-8. I attached the raw data file (mydata). How can I load this data in SAS? Thanks.

The following is my data's layout information.

name type start width decimals

v1 C 1 1 0

v2 C 2 3 0

v3 C 5 3 0

v4 C 8 3 0

v5 C 11 3 0

v6 C 14 4 0

v7 C 18 4 0

v8 C 22 4 0

v9 C 26 4 0

v10 C 30 2 0

v11 C 32 2 0

v12 C 34 6 0

v13 C 40 1 0

U01 I 41 9 0

U02 I 50 9 0

U03 F 59 9 1

U04 I 68 9 0

Re: Reading raw data set (The length of numeric variables is 3-8. )

FriedEgg — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:22:19 GMT

I would read this paper to better understand how SAS stores numeric data:

http://www.nesug.org/proceedings/nesug02/at/at002.pdf

data foo;

length _numeric_ 3; * I choose 3 instead of default of 8 because all my data is <= 8192 and I want to save space;

input (name type) ($) start width decimals;

cards;

v1 C 1 1 0

v2 C 2 3 0

v3 C 5 3 0

v4 C 8 3 0

v5 C 11 3 0

v6 C 14 4 0

v7 C 18 4 0

v8 C 22 4 0

v9 C 26 4 0

v10 C 30 2 0

v11 C 32 2 0

v12 C 34 6 0

v13 C 40 1 0

U01 I 41 9 0

U02 I 50 9 0

U03 F 59 9 1

U04 I 68 9 0

;

run;

Re: Reading raw data set (The length of numeric variables is 3-8. )

Astounding — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:31:53 GMT

To continue the learning experience, try running FriedEgg's program and then run a PROC CONTENTS on the results.

Then swap the order of the LENGTH and INPUT statements, and repeat the process. Notice how the length of your numeric variables changes.

Good luck.

Re: Reading raw data set (The length of numeric variables is 3-8. )

tesu — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:19:44 GMT

Thanks all. The attached "mydata" is the actual data file. Sorry for the confusion. Anyway, by taking Astounding's advice of INPUT statements, I could first read the U1-U4 variables as character, and then convert them into numeric using the INPUT statements: U1new = input(U1, 9.).