SAS Programming 1: Essentials, Lesson 2 accessing data

[AJS1]

I am confused to why I got this quiz question incorrect (I chose "a" but the correct answer is "b"):

9. What does this code do?

proc import datafile="d:/collect817/bird_count.csv"
            dbms=csv out=bird817 replace;
run;

a.  It creates a SAS data set named bird817 in the work library from the CSV file bird_count and replaces bird817 whenever the CSV file is updated.

b.  It creates a SAS data set named bird817 in the work library from the CSV file bird_count.

c.  It uses the CSV engine to directly read the data file bird_count.csv.

[novinosrin]

HI @AJS1  The tricky part is "whenever the CSV file is updated."

Proc import doesn't have the artificial intelligence to know when a CSV file is updated however when and everytime it is executed, it creates a file as named. So B is straight to the point. 

Plus the replace is merely overwrite feature.

[AJS1]

Thank you!

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

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@AJS1 wrote:

I am confused to why I got this quiz question incorrect (I chose "a" but the correct answer is "b"):

9. What does this code do?

proc import datafile="d:/collect817/bird_count.csv"
            dbms=csv out=bird817 replace;
run;

a.  It creates a SAS data set named bird817 in the work library from the CSV file bird_count and replaces bird817 whenever the CSV file is updated.

b.  It creates a SAS data set named bird817 in the work library from the CSV file bird_count.

c.  It uses the CSV engine to directly read the data file bird_count.csv.

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The key different in this case is the clause "whenever the CSV file is updated.". Since the Proc Import would need to be rerun when the CSV file is updated then that makes A incorrect.