topic Output missing values as length 0 in SAS Programming

Output missing values as length 0

Jim_Cooper_hmsa — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 18:44:42 GMT

A business partner requires a pipe-delimited (|) record format where missing values are represented as a zero length field or two consecutive pipe characters (||). We have tried formats, compress() function, and system option MISSING='' to force length zero for missing values in a PUT statement but the record always returns a single blank space between two pipe characters (| |). Is there a way to remove the single blank space for output without having to remove blank spaces after the file is created with a utility program (e.g. PowerShell)? We are trying to automate this process if possible.

Re: Output missing values as length 0

FreelanceReinh — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 19:20:21 GMT

Hello @Jim_Cooper_hmsa,

Add the DSD option to the FILE statement.

Example:

93    data _null_;
94    file log dlm='|' dsd;
95    x='ABC';
96    y=' ';
97    z='DEF';
98    m=.;
99    n=123;
100   put x y z m n;
101   run;

ABC||DEF||123
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):

The same code without the DSD option yields

ABC| |DEF|.|123