topic Re: Why do I need a colon modifier for dates? in SAS Procedures

Why do I need a colon modifier for dates?

Nyioves — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 20:21:05 GMT

I am aware that you need a colon modifier for charcter variables with length longer than 8 characters and for reading in variables in non standard format i.e. with commas and decimal places but why do I need one for the program below to get it to work correctly?

data dateat;

input Date date7. HighTemp @@;

format date date9.;

datalines;

01APR90 68 02APR90 67 03APR90 70

04APR90 74 05APR90 72 06APR90 73

07APR90 71 08APR90 75 09APR90 76

;

run;

proc print data=dateat;

run;

Re: Why do I need a colon modifier for dates?

ballardw — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 20:37:46 GMT

Try

data dateat;

informat date date7. ;

input Date HighTemp @@;

format date date9.;

datalines;

01APR90 68 02APR90 67 03APR90 70

04APR90 74 05APR90 72 06APR90 73

07APR90 71 08APR90 75 09APR90 76

;

run;

Formats when specified as part of an input statement get picky about exact lengths and the spaces between variables aren't counted quite as you expect.

Re: Why do I need a colon modifier for dates?

Ksharp — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 13:03:51 GMT

It is not formatted input ' s error .

The error is from @@ .

Code: Program

data dateat;
   input Date date7. HighTemp  @;output;
   input Date date7. HighTemp  @;output;
   format date date9.;
   datalines;
01APR90 68 02APR90 67 03APR90 70
04APR90 74 05APR90 72 06APR90 73
07APR90 71 08APR90 75 09APR90 76
   ;
run;

Log: Program

Notes (2)

1 OPTIONS NONOTES NOSTIMER NOSOURCE NOSYNTAXCHECK;

54 data dateat;

55 input Date date7. HighTemp @;output;

56 input Date date7. HighTemp @;output;

57 format date date9.;

58 datalines;

NOTE: The data set WORK.DATEAT has 6 observations and 2 variables.

NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):

real time 0.05 seconds

cpu time 0.01 seconds

62 ;

63 run;

65 OPTIONS NONOTES NOSTIMER NOSOURCE NOSYNTAXCHECK;

Xia Keshan

Re: Why do I need a colon modifier for dates?

Steelers_In_DC — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 13:23:02 GMT

Separate the input and the informat lines. I tested it and do not know why the : modifier works, If anyone has any additional information on that I would be interested to know:

data dateat;

infile cards;

informat Date date7.;

format date date9.;

input date hightemp @@;

cards;

01APR90 68 02APR90 67 03APR90 70

04APR90 74 05APR90 72 06APR90 73

07APR90 71 08APR90 75 09APR90 76

;

run;

Re: Why do I need a colon modifier for dates?

data_null__ — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 13:48:09 GMT

ballardw wrote:

Formats when specified as part of an input statement get picky about exact lengths and the spaces between variables aren't counted quite as you expect.

What does that mean?

Re: Why do I need a colon modifier for dates?

Nyioves — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 13:58:16 GMT

It works with the colon modifier...

input Date : date7. HighTemp @@;

My question was/ is why? I guess the date format is non standard format as well; same as numbers with commas and decimal places. Thanks.

Re: Why do I need a colon modifier for dates?

Ksharp — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 14:26:05 GMT

@@ will hold the point all the time ,even it is another row.

For your scenario, CARDS default has 80 length .

When point reach at 01APR90 68 02APR90 67 03APR90 70 <--

There are still some blanks left . therefore when you run input Date date7. again ,

It is inputting a blank ,SAS throw a exception . Check the Log :

It is 04APR90 not 01APR90,When SAS meet an error.

1 OPTIONS NONOTES NOSTIMER NOSOURCE NOSYNTAXCHECK;

54 data dateat;

55 input Date date7. HighTemp @@;

56 format date date9.;

57 datalines;

NOTE: Invalid data for HighTemp in line 59 1-7.

RULE: ----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7----+----8----+----9----+----0

59 04APR90 74 05APR90 72 06APR90 73

Date=. HighTemp=. _ERROR_=1 _N_=4

NOTE: Invalid data for Date in line 59 9-15.

NOTE: Invalid data for HighTemp in line 59 16-18.

Re: Why do I need a colon modifier for dates?

Nyioves — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 23:54:23 GMT

I think Xia got it, and he has the best/most comprehensive answer.

With Modified list/colon modifier -- it will not look further than the 3 record on the first line. Where as with an informat / formatted input it's looking for a date value again on the first line after the third one is read in. thanks all.

Re: Why do I need a colon modifier for dates?

Ksharp — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 11:48:53 GMT

Modified list/colon modifier will jump these blanks and set point at the second row 04APR90 , while formatted input( without colon) still set point where it is ,and will input blanks , that is the reason why SAS will throw an exception .