topic Re: Reading a 'messy' text file in sas in SAS Programming

Reading a 'messy' text file in sas

rnmishra — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 02:07:09 GMT

I am working on a project where I need to create a sas data set from a messy text file. The issue is, I need to skip certain lines from the body of text file. If I had to skip rows at the top 'firstobs' will take care of that and for skipping the rows at bottom 'obs' will help. How about skipping say 68th through 70th row and 100 through 110th row?

Any help /suggestion would be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Re: Reading a 'messy' text file in sas

Scott_Mitchell — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 02:15:17 GMT

Please provide a sample of the data you are working with so that we can help you.

Re: Reading a 'messy' text file in sas

PGStats — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 02:17:17 GMT

It depends a lot on the structure of the text file. Skipping specific lines could be as simple as

input var1 var2...;

if _n_ in (68:70, 100:110) then delete;

....

Re: Reading a 'messy' text file in sas

rnmishra — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 02:28:09 GMT

Thanks PGStat. This is exactly what I want right now. However the 'Messy' text file that I have to handle right now has lot more issues. Will get back to you if my research fail to give a desired outcome.

Thanks again for the help!!!