Data step not working with ascii fixed format file

deleted_user — Fri, 29 May 2009 07:31:40 GMT

Hi all,

It's been a while since I have been a regular SAS user. I know that I've encountered this problem before, but can't remember the solution. I would really appreciate your help.

I have a fixed format ascii file, and many of the fields have missing values.
But when I import the file, instead of setting the value of a field that is missing to missing, sas skips to the next non-missing character string and populating every missing field with that.

I sure would appreciate any assistance!!

Thanks,

Barb

**************************************************************************
* Here is my data step:
**************************************************************************
libname client 'G:\CLIENTS\SAS_INPUT_DATA';

data client.admissions (drop=DateAdmitChar DateDischargeChar);
format DateAdmit DateDischarge mmddyy10.;
infile 'G:\CLIENTS\SAS_INPUT_DATA\admissions_with_drg.out'
LRECL=617
truncover;
input
@1 PATAGE :3.
@4 GENDER :$CHAR1.
@5 DateAdmitChar :$CHAR10.
@15 DateDischargeChar :$CHAR10.
@25 LOS :3.
@30 AdmitDx01 :$CHAR5.
@35 AdmitDx02 :$CHAR5.
@40 AdmitDx03 :$CHAR5.
@45 AdmitDx04 :$CHAR5.
@50 AdmitDx05 :$CHAR5.
@55 AdmitDx06 :$CHAR5.
@60 AdmitDx07 :$CHAR5.
@65 AdmitDx08 :$CHAR5.
@70 AdmitDx09 :$CHAR5.
@75 AdmitDx10 :$CHAR5.
@80 AdmitDx11 :$CHAR5.
@85 AdmitDx12 :$CHAR5.
@90 AdmitDx13 :$CHAR5.
@95 AdmitDx14 :$CHAR5.
@100 AdmitDx15 :$CHAR5.
@105 AdmitDx16 :$CHAR5.
@110 AdmitDx17 :$CHAR5.
@115 AdmitDx18 :$CHAR5.
@120 AdmitDx19 :$CHAR5.
@125 AdmitDx20 :$CHAR5.
@130 AdmitDx21 :$CHAR5.
@135 AdmitDx22 :$CHAR5.
@140 AdmitDx23 :$CHAR5.
@145 AdmitDx24 :$CHAR5.
@150 AdmitDx25 :$CHAR5.
@155 AdmitDx26 :$CHAR5.
@160 AdmitDx27 :$CHAR5.
@165 AdmitDx28 :$CHAR5.
@170 AdmitDx29 :$CHAR5.
@175 AdmitDx30 :$CHAR5.
@180 AdmitDx31 :$CHAR5.
@185 AdmitDx32 :$CHAR5.
@190 AdmitDx33 :$CHAR5.
@195 AdmitDx34 :$CHAR5.
@200 AdmitDx35 :$CHAR5.
@205 AdmitDx36 :$CHAR5.
@210 AdmitDx37 :$CHAR5.
@215 AdmitDx38 :$CHAR5.
@220 AdmitDx39 :$CHAR5.
@225 AdmitDx40 :$CHAR5.
@230 AdmitDx41 :$CHAR5.
@235 AdmitDx42 :$CHAR5.
@240 AdmitDx43 :$CHAR5.
@245 AdmitDx44 :$CHAR5.
@250 AdmitDx45 :$CHAR5.
@255 AdmitDx46 :$CHAR5.
@260 AdmitDx47 :$CHAR5.
@265 AdmitDx48 :$CHAR5.
@270 AdmitDx49 :$CHAR5.
@275 AdmitDx50 :$CHAR5.
@285 AdmitProc01 :$CHAR5.
@290 AdmitProc02 :$CHAR5.
@295 AdmitProc03 :$CHAR5.
@300 AdmitProc04 :$CHAR5.
@305 AdmitProc05 :$CHAR5.
@310 AdmitProc06 :$CHAR5.
@315 AdmitProc07 :$CHAR5.
@320 AdmitProc08 :$CHAR5.
@325 AdmitProc09 :$CHAR5.
@330 AdmitProc10 :$CHAR5.
@335 AdmitProc11 :$CHAR5.
@340 AdmitProc12 :$CHAR5.
@345 AdmitProc13 :$CHAR5.
@350 AdmitProc14 :$CHAR5.
@355 AdmitProc15 :$CHAR5.
@360 AdmitProc16 :$CHAR5.
@365 AdmitProc17 :$CHAR5.
@370 AdmitProc18 :$CHAR5.
@375 AdmitProc19 :$CHAR5.
@380 AdmitProc20 :$CHAR5.
@385 AdmitProc21 :$CHAR5.
@390 AdmitProc22 :$CHAR5.
@400 AdmitProc23 :$CHAR5.
@405 AdmitProc24 :$CHAR5.
@410 AdmitProc25 :$CHAR5.
@415 AdmitProc26 :$CHAR5.
@420 AdmitProc27 :$CHAR5.
@425 AdmitProc28 :$CHAR5.
@430 AdmitProc29 :$CHAR5.
@435 AdmitProc30 :$CHAR5.
@440 AdmitProc31 :$CHAR5.
@445 AdmitProc32 :$CHAR5.
@450 AdmitProc33 :$CHAR5.
@455 AdmitProc34 :$CHAR5.
@460 AdmitProc35 :$CHAR5.
@465 AdmitProc36 :$CHAR5.
@470 AdmitProc37 :$CHAR5.
@475 AdmitProc38 :$CHAR5.
@480 AdmitProc39 :$CHAR5.
@485 AdmitProc40 :$CHAR5.
@490 AdmitProc41 :$CHAR5.
@495 AdmitProc42 :$CHAR5.
@500 AdmitProc43 :$CHAR5.
@505 AdmitProc44 :$CHAR5.
@510 AdmitProc45 :$CHAR5.
@515 AdmitProc46 :$CHAR5.
@520 AdmitProc47 :$CHAR5.
@525 AdmitProc48 :$CHAR5.
@530 AdmitProc49 :$CHAR5.
@535 AdmitProc50 :$CHAR5.
@540 PATID :$CHAR20.
@565 HOSPITALID: $CHAR20.
@590 AdmitID: $CHAR15.
@608 DischStatus: $CHAR2.
@615 DRG: 3.
;
DateAdmit = mdy( substr(DateAdmitChar,6,2) , substr(DateAdmitChar,9,2) , substr(DateAdmitChar,1,4) );
DateDischarge = mdy( substr(DateDischargeChar,6,2) , substr(DateDischargeChar,9,2) , substr(DateDischargeChar,1,4) );
run;

**************************************************************************
* Here is the log (no errors, everything looks like it ran fine):
**************************************************************************
NOTE: Libref CLIENT was successfully assigned as follows:
Engine: V9
Physical Name: G:\CLIENTS\SAS_INPUT_DATA
987
988 data client.admissions (drop=DateAdmitChar DateDischargeChar);
989 format DateAdmit DateDischarge mmddyy10.;
990 infile 'G:\CLIENTS\SAS_INPUT_DATA\admissions_with_drg.out'
991 LRECL=617
992 truncover;
993 input
994 @1 PATAGE :3.
995 @4 GENDER :$CHAR1.
996 @5 DateAdmitChar :$CHAR10.
997 @15 DateDischargeChar :$CHAR10.
998 @25 LOS :3.
999 @30 AdmitDx01 :$CHAR5.
1000 @35 AdmitDx02 :$CHAR5.
1001 @40 AdmitDx03 :$CHAR5.
1002 @45 AdmitDx04 :$CHAR5.
1003 @50 AdmitDx05 :$CHAR5.
1004 @55 AdmitDx06 :$CHAR5.
1005 @60 AdmitDx07 :$CHAR5.
1006 @65 AdmitDx08 :$CHAR5.
1007 @70 AdmitDx09 :$CHAR5.
1008 @75 AdmitDx10 :$CHAR5.
1009 @80 AdmitDx11 :$CHAR5.
1010 @85 AdmitDx12 :$CHAR5.
1011 @90 AdmitDx13 :$CHAR5.
1012 @95 AdmitDx14 :$CHAR5.
1013 @100 AdmitDx15 :$CHAR5.
1014 @105 AdmitDx16 :$CHAR5.
1015 @110 AdmitDx17 :$CHAR5.
1016 @115 AdmitDx18 :$CHAR5.
1017 @120 AdmitDx19 :$CHAR5.
1018 @125 AdmitDx20 :$CHAR5.
1019 @130 AdmitDx21 :$CHAR5.
1020 @135 AdmitDx22 :$CHAR5.
1021 @140 AdmitDx23 :$CHAR5.
1022 @145 AdmitDx24 :$CHAR5.
1023 @150 AdmitDx25 :$CHAR5.
1024 @155 AdmitDx26 :$CHAR5.
1025 @160 AdmitDx27 :$CHAR5.
1026 @165 AdmitDx28 :$CHAR5.
1027 @170 AdmitDx29 :$CHAR5.
1028 @175 AdmitDx30 :$CHAR5.
1029 @180 AdmitDx31 :$CHAR5.
1030 @185 AdmitDx32 :$CHAR5.
1031 @190 AdmitDx33 :$CHAR5.
1032 @195 AdmitDx34 :$CHAR5.
1033 @200 AdmitDx35 :$CHAR5.
1034 @205 AdmitDx36 :$CHAR5.
1035 @210 AdmitDx37 :$CHAR5.
1036 @215 AdmitDx38 :$CHAR5.
1037 @220 AdmitDx39 :$CHAR5.
1038 @225 AdmitDx40 :$CHAR5.
1039 @230 AdmitDx41 :$CHAR5.
1040 @235 AdmitDx42 :$CHAR5.
1041 @240 AdmitDx43 :$CHAR5.
1042 @245 AdmitDx44 :$CHAR5.
1043 @250 AdmitDx45 :$CHAR5.
1044 @255 AdmitDx46 :$CHAR5.
1045 @260 AdmitDx47 :$CHAR5.
1046 @265 AdmitDx48 :$CHAR5.
1047 @270 AdmitDx49 :$CHAR5.
1048 @275 AdmitDx50 :$CHAR5.
1049 @285 AdmitProc01 :$CHAR5.
1050 @290 AdmitProc02 :$CHAR5.
1051 @295 AdmitProc03 :$CHAR5.
1052 @300 AdmitProc04 :$CHAR5.
1053 @305 AdmitProc05 :$CHAR5.
1054 @310 AdmitProc06 :$CHAR5.
1055 @315 AdmitProc07 :$CHAR5.
1056 @320 AdmitProc08 :$CHAR5.
1057 @325 AdmitProc09 :$CHAR5.
1058 @330 AdmitProc10 :$CHAR5.
1059 @335 AdmitProc11 :$CHAR5.
1060 @340 AdmitProc12 :$CHAR5.
1061 @345 AdmitProc13 :$CHAR5.
1062 @350 AdmitProc14 :$CHAR5.
1063 @355 AdmitProc15 :$CHAR5.
1064 @360 AdmitProc16 :$CHAR5.
1065 @365 AdmitProc17 :$CHAR5.
1066 @370 AdmitProc18 :$CHAR5.
1067 @375 AdmitProc19 :$CHAR5.
1068 @380 AdmitProc20 :$CHAR5.
1069 @385 AdmitProc21 :$CHAR5.
1070 @390 AdmitProc22 :$CHAR5.
1071 @400 AdmitProc23 :$CHAR5.
1072 @405 AdmitProc24 :$CHAR5.
1073 @410 AdmitProc25 :$CHAR5.
1074 @415 AdmitProc26 :$CHAR5.
1075 @420 AdmitProc27 :$CHAR5.
1076 @425 AdmitProc28 :$CHAR5.
1077 @430 AdmitProc29 :$CHAR5.
1078 @435 AdmitProc30 :$CHAR5.
1079 @440 AdmitProc31 :$CHAR5.
1080 @445 AdmitProc32 :$CHAR5.
1081 @450 AdmitProc33 :$CHAR5.
1082 @455 AdmitProc34 :$CHAR5.
1083 @460 AdmitProc35 :$CHAR5.
1084 @465 AdmitProc36 :$CHAR5.
1085 @470 AdmitProc37 :$CHAR5.
1086 @475 AdmitProc38 :$CHAR5.
1087 @480 AdmitProc39 :$CHAR5.
1088 @485 AdmitProc40 :$CHAR5.
1089 @490 AdmitProc41 :$CHAR5.
1090 @495 AdmitProc42 :$CHAR5.
1091 @500 AdmitProc43 :$CHAR5.
1092 @505 AdmitProc44 :$CHAR5.
1093 @510 AdmitProc45 :$CHAR5.
1094 @515 AdmitProc46 :$CHAR5.
1095 @520 AdmitProc47 :$CHAR5.
1096 @525 AdmitProc48 :$CHAR5.
1097 @530 AdmitProc49 :$CHAR5.
1098 @535 AdmitProc50 :$CHAR5.
1099 @540 PATID :$CHAR20.
1100 @565 HOSPITALID: $CHAR20.
1101 @590 AdmitID: $CHAR15.
1102 @608 DischStatus: $CHAR2.
1103 @615 DRG: 3.
1104 ;
1105 DateAdmit = mdy( substr(DateAdmitChar,6,2) , substr(DateAdmitChar,9,2) ,
1105! substr(DateAdmitChar,1,4) );
1106 DateDischarge = mdy( substr(DateDischargeChar,6,2) ,
1106! substr(DateDischargeChar,9,2) , substr(DateDischargeChar,1,4) );
1107 run;

NOTE: Character values have been converted to numeric values at the places given by:
(Line):(Column).
1105:22 1105:50 1105:78 1106:26 1106:58 1106:90
NOTE: The infile 'G:\CLIENTS\SAS_INPUT_DATA\admissions_with_drg.out' is:
File Name=G:\CLIENTS\SAS_INPUT_DATA\admissions_with_drg.out,
RECFM=V,LRECL=617

NOTE: 872 records were read from the infile
'G:\CLIENTS\SAS_INPUT_DATA\admissions_with_drg.out'.
The minimum record length was 617.
The maximum record length was 617.
One or more lines were truncated.
NOTE: The data set CLIENT.ADMISSIONS has 872 observations and 110 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 0.09 seconds
cpu time 0.04 seconds

Re: Data step not working with ascii fixed format file

Peter_C — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:07:02 GMT

those : (colon) characters tell the input handling to move on to the next non-blank character. So, if you actually want to read at the target column, remove those : characters .
If blank/missing data is acceptable and generating errors, use the ?? informat modifier to suppress emssages.

good luck

PeterC

Re: Data step not working with ascii fixed format file

BartDekeyser — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 08:40:25 GMT

in stead of truncover try using missover

topic Data step not working with ascii fixed format file in SAS Programming

Data step not working with ascii fixed format file

Re: Data step not working with ascii fixed format file

Re: Data step not working with ascii fixed format file