topic Re: Read file where data is scattered across multiple lines in SAS Programming

Read file where data is scattered across multiple lines

pablas — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:14:11 GMT

I have data in the .txt file as:
VALUE   ADM_LN2G
               1     = 'ENGLISH'
               2     = 'FRENCH'
               3     = 'ARABIC'
               4     = 'CHINESE'
               5     = 'CREE'
               6     = 'GERMAN'
               7     = 'GREEK'
                   ;
VALUE   ADM_LNG
              24     = 'INUKTITUT'
              90     = 'OTHER'
              96     = 'NOT APPLICABLE'
              97     = 'DON''T KNOW'
              98     = 'REFUSAL'
              99     = 'NOT STATED'
                   ;
.
.
.

I want to separate out each value in different dataset.
Output expected:
Dataset 1 : ADM_LN2G
VALUE ADM_LN2G
1 = 'ENGLISH'
2 = 'FRENCH'
3 = 'ARABIC'
4 = 'CHINESE'
5 = 'CREE'
6 = 'GERMAN'
7 = 'GREEK'
;

Dataset 2: ADM_LNG
VALUE   ADM_LNG
              24     = 'INUKTITUT'
              90     = 'OTHER'
              96     = 'NOT APPLICABLE'
              97     = 'DON''T KNOW'
              98     = 'REFUSAL'
              99     = 'NOT STATED'
                   ;

etc..

For every VALUE there is ";" at the end.
Please help.
Thanks in advance!!

Re: Read file where data is scattered across multiple lines

Astounding — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:31:00 GMT

There is a ";" as part of the text file. Maybe that's where it's coming from.

If you would like someone to fix your program, you will have to actually show your program.

Re: Read file where data is scattered across multiple lines

RW9 — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:34:15 GMT

That looks like a proc format text file your readin in, yes? If so why not just create the format catalog with the code and create a dataset from that, so:

%include "<your_file>.sas";

/* The above should create a format catalog then */
proc format library=<library> cntlout=<library>.<dataset>;
run;

What this does is read the text file as a proc format, which will create a format catalog - in work lib if not supplied. From that use proc format and cntlout to create a dataset of the values.

Re: Read file where data is scattered across multiple lines

pablas — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:34:24 GMT

I wish I had the program but I have got no idea how to read this file in a way that will give me desired output. I know how to read the data line by line or delimited but not when data is delimited and is spread across multiple lines.

Re: Read file where data is scattered across multiple lines

Reeza — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:40:10 GMT

I think you're misunderstanding. You're not supposed to read that file, it's a program that creates the format. You need to run the program.

If there's no proc format at the top of the file add it and run the code.

proc format;
VALUE   ADM_LN2G                                                           
               1     = 'ENGLISH'                                           
               2     = 'FRENCH'                                            
               3     = 'ARABIC'                                            
               4     = 'CHINESE'                                           
               5     = 'CREE'                                              
               6     = 'GERMAN'                                            
               7     = 'GREEK'                                             
                   ;                                                       
VALUE   ADM_LNG                                                            
              24     = 'INUKTITUT'                                         
              90     = 'OTHER'                                             
              96     = 'NOT APPLICABLE'                                    
              97     = 'DON''T KNOW'                                       
              98     = 'REFUSAL'                                           
              99     = 'NOT STATED'                                        
                   ;
run;

Re: Read file where data is scattered across multiple lines

pablas — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 16:56:42 GMT

Thanks RW9. It worked.