How can I read data with header from the file

[deleted_user]

Hi, I am new to SAS datastep. I found trouble when reading data from a file.

If data formated in the file looks like the following:

OBS CITY TMR SMIN SMEAN
1 PROVIDEN 1096 30 163
2 JACKSON 789 29 70
3 JOHNSTOW 1072 88 123

How can I read directly from the file and form a database in SAS?

Without the column header, I know the statement might be:
infile "xxx";
input obs city $ tmr smin smean;

However, how can I skip the first line of the file when reading data? or is it possible to directly take the column header as the variables?

Thank you for your help in advance.

[Patrick]

Use the data import wizard in SAS EG - it generates the code for you.

[Oleg_L]

You can skip the first line by using firstobs option in the infile statement:

infile 'xxx' firstobs=2;

[deleted_user]

Thanks. I could do it.

[data_null__]

> or is it possible to directly take
> the column header as the variables?

Here is one way.

[pre]
filename FT15F001 temp;
proc import datafile=FT15F001 dbms=dlm out=test replace;
delimeter = ' ';
parmacrds;
OBS CITY TMR SMIN SMEAN
1 PROVIDEN 1096 30 163
2 JACKSON 789 29 70
3 JOHNSTOW 1072 88 123
;;;;
run;
proc print;
run;
[/pre]

[Peter_C]

interesting demo!
Is there some interaction between unit 15 (ft15f001) on TEMP and PARMCARDS?

[data_null__]

> interesting demo!
> Is there some interaction between unit 15 (ft15f001)
> on TEMP and PARMCARDS?

I need to learn to spell and read the log.

FT15F001 is the default fileref for PARMCARDS

[pre]
47 proc options option=parmcards value define;
48 run;

SAS (r) Proprietary Software Release 9.1 TS1M3

Option Value Information For SAS Option PARMCARDS
Option Value: FT15F001
Option Scope: Default
How option value set: Shipped Default
Option Definition Information for SAS Option PARMCARDS
Group= ENVFILES
Group Description: SAS library and file location information
Description: Fileref for the PARMCARDS file
Type: The option value is of type CHARACTER
Maximum Number of Characters: 2048
Casing: The option value is retained with original casing.
Quotes: If present during "set", start and end quotes are removed
Parentheses: The option value does not require enclosure within parentheses. If present, the parentheses are
retained.
Expansion: Environment variables are not shown in expanded form.
When Can Set: Startup or anytime during the SAS Session
Restricted: Your Site Administrator can restrict modification of this option.
Optsave: Proc Optsave or command Dmoptsave will save this option.
[/pre]

You don't have to use a temp file and if you just use PARMCARDS without defining FT15F001 you will get a file named FT15F001.DAT in the default directory.

[pre]
50 proc import datafile=FT15F001 dbms=dlm out=test replace;
51 delimiter = ' ';
52 parmcards;
53 OBS CITY TMR SMIN SMEAN
54 1 PROVIDEN 1096 30 163
55 2 JACKSON 789 29 70
56 3 JOHNSTOW 1072 88 123
57 ;;;;

58 /**********************************************************************
59 * PRODUCT: SAS
60 * VERSION: 9.1
61 * CREATOR: External File Interface
62 * DATE: 03OCT09
63 * DESC: Generated SAS Datastep Code
64 * TEMPLATE SOURCE: (None Specified.)
65 ***********************************************************************/
66 data TEST ;
67 %let _EFIERR_ = 0; /* set the ERROR detection macro variable */
68 infile FT15F001 delimiter = ' ' MISSOVER DSD firstobs=2 ;
69 informat OBS best32. ;
70 informat CITY $8. ;
71 informat TMR best32. ;
72 informat SMIN best32. ;
73 informat SMEAN best32. ;
74 format OBS best12. ;
75 format CITY $8. ;
76 format TMR best12. ;
77 format SMIN best12. ;
78 format SMEAN best12. ;
79 input
80 OBS
81 CITY $
82 TMR
83 SMIN
84 SMEAN
85 ;
86 if _ERROR_ then call symputx('_EFIERR_',1); /* set ERROR detection macro variable */
87 run;

NOTE: The infile FT15F001 is:
File Name=C:\Documents and Settings\"data _null_"\My Documents\My SAS Files\9.1\FT15F001.DAT,
RECFM=V,LRECL=256

NOTE: 3 records were read from the infile FT15F001.
The minimum record length was 19.
The maximum record length was 22.
NOTE: The data set WORK.TEST has 3 observations and 5 variables.
[/pre]