data statement

[niloo]

Hi,

I am trying to learn SAS using the videos on YouTube:How to Use SAS - Lesson 3 - Importing External Data - YouTube.

When I run the statement to import a text file I see the following warnings in the log:

114  data infile_main;

115  infile "C:\eventus\main.txt" LRECL=100 DLM=' ' firstobs=2;

116  input

117  x y z;

118  run;

NOTE: The infile "C:\eventus\main.txt" is:

      Filename=C:\eventus\main.txt,

      RECFM=V,LRECL=100,File Size (bytes)=21,

      Last Modified=13Aug2015:19:25:41,

      Create Time=13Aug2015:19:25:38

NOTE: Invalid data for x in line 2 1-5.

NOTE: Invalid data for y in line 3 1-5.

NOTE: LOST CARD.

NOTE: Invalid data errors for file '"C:\eventus\main.txt"' occurred outside the printed range.

NOTE: Increase available buffer lines with the INFILE n= option.

x=. y=. z=. _ERROR_=1 _N_=1

NOTE: 2 records were read from the infile "C:\eventus\main.txt".

      The minimum record length was 5.

      The maximum record length was 5.

NOTE: SAS went to a new line when INPUT statement reached past the end of a line.

NOTE: The data set WORK.INFILE_MAIN has 0 observations and 3 variables.

NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):

      real time          0.02 seconds

      cpu time            0.01 seconds

Here are my statements:

data infile_main;

infile "C:\eventus\main.txt" LRECL=100 DLM=' ' firstobs=2;

input

x y z;

run;

This is not the only time I have problem importing the data using data statements. I do not have any trouble importing the data using proc import or File>Import Data. Could you please tell me what is my mistake here?

Thanks,

Niloo

[varunk]

Hi Niloo,

Kindly proive the sample raw data file which you want to import.

Thanks,

VK

[ballardw]

If you post some of the data I believe you will find that there are character values and possibly only one word or string of 5 characters.

NOTE: Invalid data for x in line 2 1-5. means that you tried to read character data with a variable that was not declared to be character. You could use input x $ to say that x is supposed to contain character data or associate a character type informat prior to the input statement.

Hint: When you see this

NOTE: SAS went to a new line when INPUT statement reached past the end of a line.

you tried to read more than was actually in the input file. The second hint is

NOTE: Invalid data for x in line 2 1-5.
NOTE: Invalid data for y in line 3 1-5.

saying that the y value was attempting to read from the second line of the file and Z from the third line. AS indicated by

NOTE: SAS went to a new line when INPUT statement reached past the end of a line.

Run proc import against the same file and then look in the log for the program code generated. You will see significant differences.