Using Proc Explode in SAS 9.3

[vkorsz]

I am interested in using PROC EXPLODE for a school project, but when the only examples I can find are from older versions of SAS.  I have read about people using it in SAS 9, but for me it does not run.  I have tried a few examples, such as this one:

filename ft15f001 temp;

options nodate pageno=1 linesize=80 pagesize=60;

proc explode;

parmcards;

HELLO WORLD

;

The error I get is from the line with "HELLO WORLD."  I tried changing up the syntax in different ways, but it gives the error:

"ERROR: Column 1 of a parameter line can contain only a number, or the

       characters D, L, P, S, or U."

I do not understand the parmcards statement, so any information on that could help me out as well.

Thank you in advance for any light that can be shed on this topic.

[Reeza]

It looks like it doesn't exist past SAS 9.1 would be my guess.

What are you trying to do?

[art297]

Sill listed in the 9.3 documentation: SAS(R) 9.3 Procedures by Name and Product

[Reeza]

I stand corrected and interesting to know!!

[SASKiwi]

As I recall the main use for this procedure was for header pages on lineflow reports. Can't remember the last time I saw a lineflow printer.....

[SASKiwi · Accepted solution]

This works for me in 9.3 and brings back memories from long ago (possibly even SAS V5 ):

filename ft15f001 temp;

proc explode;

parmcards;

1  HELLO WORLD

;

run;

[vkorsz]

Thank you! The 1 in front of the text made it work, none of the examples from previous versions of SAS contained that detail.  Appreciate your help!

[FriedEgg]

Your particular issue is that the first position of the parmcards instructions is used for formatting queues, like SASKiwi did 1 being the instruction to print on the first line.  Just offset your text with a space

filename ft15f001 temp;

options nodate pageno=1 linesize=80 pagesize=60;

proc explode;

parmcards;

<space>HELLO WORLD

;

[jakarman]

Vorsk. Saskiwi's remark is one to think about.

Those line printers were  common until 1990 and in those years mainframe processing was the standard. That 1 on the first position is indicating new page.

As a separator page the explode approach was common as a marker in bulk prints

The days windows Unix are more common wit variable lettertypes and sizing. For educational purposes proc explode is nice with that history.

Common usage is not of real value today.