topic Re: SAS Data Set to Flat Text File in SAS Programming

SAS Data Set to Flat Text File

deleted_user — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:50:15 GMT

Hi!

Is there any way that I can convert a SAS data set to a flat text file (with no delimiters)?

Thank you.

Re: SAS Data Set to Flat Text File

Cynthia_sas — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:57:16 GMT

Yes, there is. Depending on your expertise with SAS, you can export the data using the Export Wizard and select a space ( ) character as the delimiter or you can write a DATA _NULL_ program and use PUT statements to create your flat file. There are many examples in the documentation of creating flat files using SAS.

cynthia

Re: SAS Data Set to Flat Text File

Ksharp — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:38:05 GMT

It looks like Patrick give a solution in the preceding posts.
Such as :
[pre]
data _null_;
set sashelp.class;
file 'd:\download\class.txt';
put name= +1 / sex= +1 / age= +1 /;
run;
[/pre]

It is what you want.

Re: SAS Data Set to Flat Text File

Ksharp — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:42:31 GMT

Hi!
You can search what you are looking for in sas forum.

Re: SAS Data Set to Flat Text File

Patrick — Sat, 22 May 2010 00:21:16 GMT

Hi
A data step version writing the values of all variable of a data set to an external file without delimiters.
HTH
Patrick

data test;
format b z5.;
a=' abc ';
b=1;
c=' Just a test';
d=1234456778;
e=' The end';
run;

proc sql noprint;
select strip(name) into :PutVarList separated by ' +(-1) '
from dictionary.columns
where libname='WORK' and memname='TEST'
;
quit;

%put PutVarList= &PutVarList;

data _null_;
set test;
file print;
put &PutVarList;
run;

Re: SAS Data Set to Flat Text File

data_null__ — Sat, 22 May 2010 19:44:11 GMT

Seems to me that creating a file with no delimiter, space or otherwise, can only be useful if the length of each field is fixed. You cannot use LIST PUT for that you
would need to use column or formatted put. For example.

[pre]
put a z5. b f8. c$20. d f12. e $16.;
[/pre]

Patrick,

You can make your program much shorter if you take avantage of features of the PUT statement.

[pre]
data _null_;
set test;
file print;
put (_all_) (+(-1));
run;
[/pre]