How to read this file into SAS

[superbug]

my data file looks like the following (sorry, I can't upload the whole data due to confidentiality) 

I need to read in data into sas starting from 3rd line, that is, I don't want the first two lines, I tried the following code

%let path=C:\data\output_1.ITM;
data _null_;
infile "&path."  lrecl=200 pad;
input lines $100.;
if index(lines, ';ENTRY') ne 0 then do; 
call symput('v1', _n_+1);stop;
end;
run;

data d1;
infile  "&path" firstobs=&v1 missover;
input 
@04  entry         5.
@08  measure       8.4
@17  status        3.
@20  count         8.0;
run;

Applying the code above, I got something like the following, why there are missingness in the "entry"? 

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

[ballardw]

I am not at all sure why you bother with that data _null_ step when you clearly state "I need to read in data into sas starting from 3rd line". That would be Firstobs=3

or does the first data line vary from file to file.

Show us the log. I suspect you are getting an "invalid data" message of some type. What is most likely happening is because you are hard coding the 5. and other informats on  the input statement. Which means that Entry is being read with all 5 characters. I bet that if you look at your text that the 5th character after the 4 is the - in Measure values

Look at your

@04 entry 5.
@08 measure 8.4

Start at column 4 and read 5 characters, the 5th is at column 8, which is where Measure starts.

So either your informat for entry is incorrect or the start column to read Entry is incorrect, at least occasionally.

You also want to be very careful reading values when you use an informat like 8.4.

Consider the result of this

data junk;
   input @1 x 8.4;
datalines;
12345678
;

Compared with

data junk2;
   input @1 x 8.;
datalines;
12345678
  .3456
;

And either you code has something seriously wrong or your data picture does. Starting at Entry=6 the measure values you claim for the data set to not match the pictured data. So perhaps you code is actually reading a different file???

Since it appears that the sensitive information is in the header copy a few rows, including the header, paste into a code box on the forum opened with the </> icon and then X over the sensitive characters. Then we can see what you file looks like.

Then post the entire data step

[superbug]

@ballardw 

You are right! I do have "invalid data" message in the log. Below is part of my data. Please direct me how to correctly read in the data. Thanks a bunch! 

; ITEM  X:\aaaa\bbb\ccc\Winst  
;ENTRY MEASURE ST   COUNT    SCORE REALSE IN.MSQ IN.ZST OUT.MS OUT.ZS  DISPL   PTMA WEIGHT OBSMA EXPMA PMA-E  RMSR    WMLE G M R NAME
     1   .3771  2  1929.0   1369.0  .0530   1.01    .48    .98   -.59  .1168    .30   1.00  71.3  73.4   .21   .43   .3777 1 R . ABC001830_50
     2  -.3008  2  1929.0   1556.0  .0660   1.09   2.20    .98   -.38  .2365    .35   1.00  80.6  84.0   .18   .38  -.2995 1 R . ABC002178_12
     3   .5741  2  1929.0   1336.0  .0509   1.01    .50   1.01    .35  .0051    .21   1.00  69.4  69.8   .22   .45   .5746 1 R . ABC003680_32
     4 -1.8433  2  1929.0   1830.0  .1290   1.23   2.12   1.20   1.61  .2503    .14   1.00  94.9  95.9   .10   .22 -1.8373 1 R . ABC004193_70
     5  1.1928  2  1929.0   1051.0  .0476   1.02   1.29   1.02   1.32  .0552    .22   1.00  61.2  60.7   .24   .49  1.1929 1 R . ABC004243_50
     6  -.3895  2  1929.0   1639.0  .0662   1.04    .89   1.12   2.17  .0085    .09   1.00  85.0  85.1   .18   .36  -.3881 1 R . ABC004449_33
     7   .4117  2  1929.0   1398.0  .0523   1.00   -.06   1.00   -.06  .0036    .22   1.00  72.7  72.8   .22   .44   .4123 1 R . ABC004589_60
     8  -.2457  2  1929.0   1561.0  .0654   1.11   2.70   1.13   2.57  .1636    .18   1.00  81.1  83.3   .18   .39  -.2445 1 R . ABC004761_21
     9  -.5543  2  1929.0   1676.0  .0687   1.00    .00   1.00    .00  .0093    .18   1.00  87.0  87.0   .17   .33  -.5527 1 R . ABC004819_32
    10 -1.5337  2  1929.0   1823.0  .1013    .97   -.28    .86  -1.38  .0128    .22   1.00  94.5  94.6   .12   .22 -1.5293 1 R . ABC004828_32
    11   .7255  2  1929.0   1277.0  .0508   1.05   2.97   1.06   2.84  .0013    .13   1.00  63.9  67.1   .23   .47   .7259 1 R . ABC004984_32
    12   .1623  2  1929.0   1484.0  .0554   1.00    .11   1.01    .18  .0053    .20   1.00  76.9  77.1   .20   .41   .1631 1 R . ABC005184_22
    13   .7938  2  1929.0   1347.0  .0490    .93  -4.10    .92  -4.10 -.2443    .24   1.00  69.9  65.9   .23   .45   .7941 1 R . ABC005187_31
    14  -.0751  2  1929.0   1503.0  .0617   1.09   2.64   1.09   2.00  .1851    .24   1.00  78.1  80.9   .19   .40  -.0741 1 R . ABC005208_33
    15  -.5217  2  1929.0   1669.0  .0681   1.00    .12   1.01    .26  .0091    .17   1.00  86.6  86.6   .17   .34  -.5201 1 R . ABC005262_60
    16  -.0852  2  1929.0   1559.0  .0599   1.03    .78   1.05   1.07  .0089    .15   1.00  80.7  81.0   .19   .39  -.0842 1 R . ABC005307_70
    17 -2.4582  2  1929.0   1885.0  .1553   1.02    .16   1.05    .37  .0146    .06   1.00  97.7  97.8   .08   .15 -2.4470 1 R . ABC005414_70
    18  1.3792  2  1929.0   1092.0  .0469    .98  -1.47    .98  -1.65 -.2220    .26   1.00  59.3  59.7   .24   .48  1.3792 1 R . ABC005475_23
    19  -.7236  2  1929.0   1740.0  .0730    .87  -2.53    .80  -3.27 -.1616    .21   1.00  90.2  88.7   .16   .29  -.7216 1 R . ABC005571_40
    20 -1.1321  2  1929.0   1776.0  .0855    .99   -.08    .93   -.81  .0115    .18   1.00  92.1  92.1   .14   .27 -1.1291 1 R . ABC005601_70

[Kurt_Bremser]

Since most of your columns are numbers, you can very easily write the data step:

data want;
infile "path to your file" truncover;
input @;
if indexc(_infile_,";") ne 1; /* skips all comment lines */
input
  ENTRY MEASURE ST   COUNT    SCORE REALSE IN_MSQ IN_ZST OUT_MS OUT_ZS
  DISPL   PTMA WEIGHT OBSMA EXPMA PMA_E  RMSR    WMLE G M :$1. R NAME :$20.
;
run;

I only changed a few names to make them valid, and added the informats for the character variables. Apart from that, it's a simple copy/paste from the file.

[superbug]

@Kurt_Bremser  @Tom Thanks much for the teaching!

using your code, the data I read in is not exactly the same as the original. The following is a comparison on the first entry and entry 48 between the original data and the data read in by SAS.

	ENTRY	MEASURE	ST	COUNT	SCORE	REALSE	IN.MSQ	IN.ZST	OUT.MS	OUT.ZS	DISPL	PTMA	WEIGHT	OBSMA	EXPMA	PMA-E	RMSR	WMLE	G	M	R	NAME
original       1	0.3771	 2	1929	1369	0.0530	1.01	0.48	0.98	-0.59	0.1168	0.30	1	71.3	73.4	0.21	0.43	0.3777	1	R	.	PTA001830_50
SAS	       1	0.3771	 2	1929	1369	0.0533	1.02	0.69	0.99	-0.39	0.1219	0.31	1	71.6	73.5	0.23	0.43	0.3777	1	R	.	PTA001830_50
	….																					
original	48	-1.2679	 1	320	298	0.2238	1	0.05	0.88	-0.5	0.0014	0.18	1	93.1	93.1	0.14	0.25	-1.2473	1	R	.	PTA008843_24_PTA06801
SAS	        48	0	-3	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	100	100	0	0	0	1	R	.	PTA008843_24_PTA06801

For your convenience, below is what the original data look like from entry 1 to 50

; ITEM  X:\aaa\bbb\ccc\Winst  Aug 24 14:22 2020
;ENTRY MEASURE ST   COUNT    SCORE REALSE IN.MSQ IN.ZST OUT.MS OUT.ZS  DISPL   PTMA WEIGHT OBSMA EXPMA PMA-E  RMSR    WMLE G M R NAME
     1   .3771  2  1929.0   1369.0  .0530   1.01    .48    .98   -.59  .1168    .30   1.00  71.3  73.4   .21   .43   .3777 1 R . PTA001830_50
     2  -.3008  2  1929.0   1556.0  .0660   1.09   2.20    .98   -.38  .2365    .35   1.00  80.6  84.0   .18   .38  -.2995 1 R . PTA002178_12
     3   .5741  2  1929.0   1336.0  .0509   1.01    .50   1.01    .35  .0051    .21   1.00  69.4  69.8   .22   .45   .5746 1 R . PTA003680_32
     4 -1.8433  2  1929.0   1830.0  .1290   1.23   2.12   1.20   1.61  .2503    .14   1.00  94.9  95.9   .10   .22 -1.8373 1 R . PTA004193_70
     5  1.1928  2  1929.0   1051.0  .0476   1.02   1.29   1.02   1.32  .0552    .22   1.00  61.2  60.7   .24   .49  1.1929 1 R . PTA004243_50
     6  -.3895  2  1929.0   1639.0  .0662   1.04    .89   1.12   2.17  .0085    .09   1.00  85.0  85.1   .18   .36  -.3881 1 R . PTA004449_33
     7   .4117  2  1929.0   1398.0  .0523   1.00   -.06   1.00   -.06  .0036    .22   1.00  72.7  72.8   .22   .44   .4123 1 R . PTA004589_60
     8  -.2457  2  1929.0   1561.0  .0654   1.11   2.70   1.13   2.57  .1636    .18   1.00  81.1  83.3   .18   .39  -.2445 1 R . PTA004761_21
     9  -.5543  2  1929.0   1676.0  .0687   1.00    .00   1.00    .00  .0093    .18   1.00  87.0  87.0   .17   .33  -.5527 1 R . PTA004819_32
    10 -1.5337  2  1929.0   1823.0  .1013    .97   -.28    .86  -1.38  .0128    .22   1.00  94.5  94.6   .12   .22 -1.5293 1 R . PTA004828_32
    11   .7255  2  1929.0   1277.0  .0508   1.05   2.97   1.06   2.84  .0013    .13   1.00  63.9  67.1   .23   .47   .7259 1 R . PTA004984_32
    12   .1623  2  1929.0   1484.0  .0554   1.00    .11   1.01    .18  .0053    .20   1.00  76.9  77.1   .20   .41   .1631 1 R . PTA005184_22
    13   .7938  2  1929.0   1347.0  .0490    .93  -4.10    .92  -4.10 -.2443    .24   1.00  69.9  65.9   .23   .45   .7941 1 R . PTA005187_31
    14  -.0751  2  1929.0   1503.0  .0617   1.09   2.64   1.09   2.00  .1851    .24   1.00  78.1  80.9   .19   .40  -.0741 1 R . PTA005208_33
    15  -.5217  2  1929.0   1669.0  .0681   1.00    .12   1.01    .26  .0091    .17   1.00  86.6  86.6   .17   .34  -.5201 1 R . PTA005262_60
    16  -.0852  2  1929.0   1559.0  .0599   1.03    .78   1.05   1.07  .0089    .15   1.00  80.7  81.0   .19   .39  -.0842 1 R . PTA005307_70
    17 -2.4582  2  1929.0   1885.0  .1553   1.02    .16   1.05    .37  .0146    .06   1.00  97.7  97.8   .08   .15 -2.4470 1 R . PTA005414_70
    18  1.3792  2  1929.0   1092.0  .0469    .98  -1.47    .98  -1.65 -.2220    .26   1.00  59.3  59.7   .24   .48  1.3792 1 R . PTA005475_23
    19  -.7236  2  1929.0   1740.0  .0730    .87  -2.53    .80  -3.27 -.1616    .21   1.00  90.2  88.7   .16   .29  -.7216 1 R . PTA005571_40
    20 -1.1321  2  1929.0   1776.0  .0855    .99   -.08    .93   -.81  .0115    .18   1.00  92.1  92.1   .14   .27 -1.1291 1 R . PTA005601_70
    21  -.7297  2  1929.0   1711.0  .0741   1.03    .50   1.08   1.21  .0101    .10   1.00  88.7  88.8   .16   .32  -.7277 1 R . PTA005603_60
    22 -1.7209  2  1929.0   1840.0  .1099    .99   -.08    .91   -.78  .0132    .17   1.00  95.4  95.4   .11   .21 -1.7155 1 R . PTA005610_23
    23   .8286  2  1929.0   1304.0  .0488    .94  -3.86    .93  -3.90 -.1693    .27   1.00  69.1  65.3   .23   .45   .8289 1 R . PTA005690_33
    24  -.6034  2  1929.0   1677.0  .0711   1.03    .70   1.05    .81  .0541    .17   1.00  86.9  87.5   .16   .33  -.6017 1 R . PTA005920_31
    25  -.6868  2  1929.0   1675.0  .0755   1.10   1.82   1.06    .90  .1475    .21   1.00  86.9  88.4   .16   .33  -.6849 1 R . PTA006330_11
    26  -.0967  2  1929.0   1596.0  .0593    .98   -.50   1.06   1.28 -.1148    .07   1.00  82.5  81.2   .19   .38  -.0957 1 R . PTA006348_32
    27   .2022  2  1929.0   1474.0  .0554   1.02    .77   1.03   1.01 -.0044    .16   1.00  76.4  76.5   .21   .42   .2029 1 R . PTA006627_13
    28 -1.2412  2  1929.0   1780.0  .0930   1.08   1.09   1.16   1.78  .0919    .10   1.00  92.3  92.9   .13   .26 -1.2379 1 R . PTA006630_11
    29 -1.5136  2  1929.0   1821.0  .1004    .98   -.21    .84  -1.63  .0128    .21   1.00  94.4  94.5   .12   .22 -1.5093 1 R . PTA006738_13
    30  1.9252  2  1929.0    751.0  .0491   1.04   2.98   1.05   2.79 -.0087    .16   1.00  60.2  63.6   .24   .48  1.9250 1 R . PTA006924_31
    31  -.2486  2  1929.0   1547.0  .0669   1.16   3.88   1.20   3.91  .2150    .15   1.00  80.4  83.3   .18   .40  -.2474 1 R . PTA007213_60
    32   .1530  2  1929.0   1487.0  .0555   1.00   -.01    .98   -.53  .0054    .22   1.00  77.2  77.3   .20   .41   .1538 1 R . PTA007275_35
    33   .7798  2  1929.0   1324.0  .0491    .87  -7.76    .85  -7.74 -.1709    .39   1.00  72.1  66.2   .23   .43   .7801 1 R . PTA007397_35
    34 -1.3984  2  1929.0   1804.0  .0979   1.05    .62   1.06    .69  .0561    .12   1.00  93.5  93.8   .12   .24 -1.3945 1 R . PTA007464_29
    35   .1500  2  1929.0   1488.0  .0567   1.04   1.44   1.06   1.70  .0053    .12   1.00  77.1  77.3   .20   .42   .1508 1 R . PTA007703_29
    36  1.6427  2  1929.0    875.0  .0474   1.01    .95   1.02   1.53 -.0062    .22   1.00  59.9  60.5   .24   .49  1.6426 1 R . PTA007725_24
    37  1.1037  2  1929.0   1164.0  .0476   1.01    .46   1.00    .06 -.1101    .20   1.00  60.3  61.6   .24   .48  1.1039 1 R . PTA007854_29
    38  1.0442  2  1929.0   1067.0  .0492   1.06   4.81   1.07   4.39  .1684    .17   1.00  57.6  62.2   .24   .49  1.0444 1 R . PTA007975_24
    39  -.5309  2  1929.0   1671.0  .0682    .96   -.74    .87  -2.30  .0091    .28   1.00  86.7  86.7   .17   .33  -.5293 1 R . PTA008026_23
    40 -2.1927  2  1929.0   1879.0  .1361    .87  -1.03    .68  -2.43 -.1197    .17   1.00  97.4  97.1   .09   .16 -2.1841 1 R . PTA008392_11
    41   .7410  2  1929.0   1274.0  .0494    .97  -1.95    .95  -2.26 -.0069    .29   1.00  67.5  66.8   .23   .45   .7414 1 R . PTA008409_32
    42  1.7573  2  1929.0    756.0  .0485   1.05   3.77   1.06   3.81  .1468    .10   1.00  59.0  61.5   .24   .49  1.7571 1 R . PTA008437_35
    43   .2792  2  1929.0   1423.0  .0552   1.05   1.88   1.05   1.55  .0673    .18   1.00  73.8  75.1   .21   .43   .2799 1 R . PTA008511_13
    44  1.3313  2  1929.0   1127.0  .0472   1.01    .79   1.01    .86 -.2530    .20   1.00  59.9  59.9   .24   .49  1.3313 1 R . PTA008589_25
    45   .0062  2  1929.0   1539.0  .0576   1.00   -.06   1.00    .10 -.0145    .18   1.00  79.4  79.6   .20   .39   .0071 1 R . PTA008618_29
    46  1.0992  2  1929.0   1048.0  .0484   1.04   3.00   1.04   2.93  .1555    .21   1.00  58.7  61.6   .24   .49  1.0994 1 R . PTA008673_80
    47   .5351  2  1929.0   1352.0  .0522   1.04   2.06   1.06   2.20  .0027    .14   1.00  69.7  70.5   .22   .46   .5356 1 R . PTA008822_33
    48 -1.2679  1   320.0    298.0  .2238   1.00    .05    .88   -.50  .0014    .18   1.00  93.1  93.1   .14   .25 -1.2473 1 R . PTA008843_24_PTA06801
    49  1.8551  1   328.0    133.0  .1155    .99   -.41    .98   -.40  .0020    .25   1.00  64.3  62.2   .23   .47  1.8539 1 R . PTA008851_24_PTA06802
    50  1.4776  2  1929.0    879.0  .0469    .93  -6.70    .92  -6.57  .1495    .37   1.00  65.5  59.7   .24   .47  1.4776 1 R . PTA008879_26

Could you please teach me how to modify your code so that I can correctly read in the data? 

[Tom]

Please post the log lines from the step you used to read the file.

[superbug]

@Tom  Please see log below

969 missing R;

NOTE: The infile 'aaa\bbb\ccc\Drift Analysis\PTA drift analysis 2020 forms_1.ITM' is:

Filename=aaa\bbb\ccc\Drift AnalysisTA drift analysis 2020 forms_1.ITM,
RECFM=V,LRECL=32767,File Size (bytes)=67294,
Last Modified=24Aug2020:14:02:42,
Create Time=24Aug2020:14:02:42

NOTE: 450 records were read from the infile 'aaa\bbb\ccc\Drift Analysis\PTA drift analysis 2020 forms_1.ITM'.
The minimum record length was 141.
The maximum record length was 150.
NOTE: The data set WORK.WANT has 450 observations and 22 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
real time 32.18 seconds
cpu time 1.26 seconds

970 data want;
971 infile 'X:\aaa\bbb\ccc\Drift Analysis\Winsteps
971! Output\PPP068\PTA drift analysis 2020 forms_1.ITM' firstobs=3 truncover;
972 INPUT
973 ENTRY 1-6 MEASURE 7-14 ST 15-17 COUNT 18-25 SCORE 26-34 REALSE 35-41 IN_MSQ 42-48 IN_ZST
973! 49-55 UT_MS 56-62 OUT_ZS 63-69
974 ISPL 70-76 PTMA 77-83 WEIGHT 84-90 OBSMA 91-96 EXPMA 97-102 PMA_E 103-108 RMSR 109-114 WMLE
974! 115-122 G 123-124 M 125-126 R 127-128 NAME $ 129-150;
975 ;

[Tom · Accepted solution]

I don't see any issues there.  Not sure why the lines seem out of order. Then NOTES usually appear after the data step itself in the log.

Try adding some logic to display the records around that line into the log and see if there is anything different about them.  

data want;
  infile 'X:\aaa\bbb\ccc\Drift Analysis\WinstepsOutput\PPP068\PTA drift analysis 2020 forms_1.ITM' firstobs=3 truncover;
  INPUT
    ENTRY 1-6 MEASURE 7-14 ST 15-17 COUNT 18-25 SCORE 26-34 REALSE 35-41 IN_MSQ 42-48 
    IN_ZST 49-55 UT_MS 56-62 OUT_ZS 63-69
    ISPL 70-76 PTMA 77-83 WEIGHT 84-90 OBSMA 91-96 EXPMA 97-102 PMA_E 103-108 RMSR 109-114 
    WMLE 115-122 G 123-124 M 125-126 R 127-128 NAME $ 129-150
  ;
  if entry in (47 48 49) then list;
run;

Most likely the values in that line are shifted somehow.  If there are special characters the LIST should show the hex codes for the characters.  But it doesn't look like there are any special characters or else SAS would have printed notes about not being able to convert the text in the columns you listed into numbers.

[superbug]

@Tom @Kurt_Bremser @jimbarbour @Astounding @ballardw 

Thanks so much to all of you!!

Very much appreciate your time and help!!

[Kurt_Bremser]

---

@superbug wrote:

970 data want;
971 infile 'X:\aaa\bbb\ccc\Drift Analysis\Winsteps
971! Output\PPP068\PTA drift analysis 2020 forms_1.ITM' firstobs=3 truncover;
972 INPUT
973 ENTRY 1-6 MEASURE 7-14 ST 15-17 COUNT 18-25 SCORE 26-34 REALSE 35-41 IN_MSQ 42-48 IN_ZST
973! 49-55 UT_MS 56-62 OUT_ZS 63-69
974 ISPL 70-76 PTMA 77-83 WEIGHT 84-90 OBSMA 91-96 EXPMA 97-102 PMA_E 103-108 RMSR 109-114 WMLE
974! 115-122 G 123-124 M 125-126 R 127-128 NAME $ 129-150;
975 ;

---

That is not my code.

[jimbarbour]

I believe that the program generated by Enterprise Guide reads line 48 correctly.  See my earlier reply for source code.

Jim

[Tom]

Check the file for strange characters that are eliminated when you copy and paste into the forum.

190   missing R ;
191   data want;
192     infile cards /* 'X:\aaaa\bbb\ccc\Winst' */ firstobs=3 truncover;
193     input
194       ENTRY MEASURE ST COUNT SCORE REALSE IN_MSQ IN_ZST OUT_MS OUT_ZS
195      DISPL PTMA WEIGHT OBSMA EXPMA PMA_E RMSR WMLE G M R
196      NAME :$20.
197     ;
198     if entry=48 then put (_all_) (=/);
199   cards4;


ENTRY=48
MEASURE=-1.2679
ST=1
COUNT=320
SCORE=298
REALSE=0.2238
IN_MSQ=1
IN_ZST=0.05
OUT_MS=0.88
OUT_ZS=-0.5
DISPL=0.0014
PTMA=0.18
WEIGHT=1
OBSMA=93.1
EXPMA=93.1
PMA_E=0.14
RMSR=0.25
WMLE=-1.2473
G=1
M=R
R=.
NAME=PTA008843_24_PTA0680

[Kurt_Bremser]

I copy/pasted your data into a DATALINES4 block and ran my code. The only change I made was to lengthen the informat for name (21):

data want;
input @;
if indexc(_infile_,";") ne 1; /* skips all comment lines */
input
  ENTRY MEASURE ST   COUNT    SCORE REALSE IN_MSQ IN_ZST OUT_MS OUT_ZS
  DISPL   PTMA WEIGHT OBSMA EXPMA PMA_E  RMSR    WMLE G M :$1. R NAME :$21.
;
datalines4;
; ITEM  X:\aaa\bbb\ccc\Winst  Aug 24 14:22 2020
;ENTRY MEASURE ST   COUNT    SCORE REALSE IN.MSQ IN.ZST OUT.MS OUT.ZS  DISPL   PTMA WEIGHT OBSMA EXPMA PMA-E  RMSR    WMLE G M R NAME
     1   .3771  2  1929.0   1369.0  .0530   1.01    .48    .98   -.59  .1168    .30   1.00  71.3  73.4   .21   .43   .3777 1 R . PTA001830_50
     2  -.3008  2  1929.0   1556.0  .0660   1.09   2.20    .98   -.38  .2365    .35   1.00  80.6  84.0   .18   .38  -.2995 1 R . PTA002178_12
     3   .5741  2  1929.0   1336.0  .0509   1.01    .50   1.01    .35  .0051    .21   1.00  69.4  69.8   .22   .45   .5746 1 R . PTA003680_32
     4 -1.8433  2  1929.0   1830.0  .1290   1.23   2.12   1.20   1.61  .2503    .14   1.00  94.9  95.9   .10   .22 -1.8373 1 R . PTA004193_70
     5  1.1928  2  1929.0   1051.0  .0476   1.02   1.29   1.02   1.32  .0552    .22   1.00  61.2  60.7   .24   .49  1.1929 1 R . PTA004243_50
     6  -.3895  2  1929.0   1639.0  .0662   1.04    .89   1.12   2.17  .0085    .09   1.00  85.0  85.1   .18   .36  -.3881 1 R . PTA004449_33
     7   .4117  2  1929.0   1398.0  .0523   1.00   -.06   1.00   -.06  .0036    .22   1.00  72.7  72.8   .22   .44   .4123 1 R . PTA004589_60
     8  -.2457  2  1929.0   1561.0  .0654   1.11   2.70   1.13   2.57  .1636    .18   1.00  81.1  83.3   .18   .39  -.2445 1 R . PTA004761_21
     9  -.5543  2  1929.0   1676.0  .0687   1.00    .00   1.00    .00  .0093    .18   1.00  87.0  87.0   .17   .33  -.5527 1 R . PTA004819_32
    10 -1.5337  2  1929.0   1823.0  .1013    .97   -.28    .86  -1.38  .0128    .22   1.00  94.5  94.6   .12   .22 -1.5293 1 R . PTA004828_32
    11   .7255  2  1929.0   1277.0  .0508   1.05   2.97   1.06   2.84  .0013    .13   1.00  63.9  67.1   .23   .47   .7259 1 R . PTA004984_32
    12   .1623  2  1929.0   1484.0  .0554   1.00    .11   1.01    .18  .0053    .20   1.00  76.9  77.1   .20   .41   .1631 1 R . PTA005184_22
    13   .7938  2  1929.0   1347.0  .0490    .93  -4.10    .92  -4.10 -.2443    .24   1.00  69.9  65.9   .23   .45   .7941 1 R . PTA005187_31
    14  -.0751  2  1929.0   1503.0  .0617   1.09   2.64   1.09   2.00  .1851    .24   1.00  78.1  80.9   .19   .40  -.0741 1 R . PTA005208_33
    15  -.5217  2  1929.0   1669.0  .0681   1.00    .12   1.01    .26  .0091    .17   1.00  86.6  86.6   .17   .34  -.5201 1 R . PTA005262_60
    16  -.0852  2  1929.0   1559.0  .0599   1.03    .78   1.05   1.07  .0089    .15   1.00  80.7  81.0   .19   .39  -.0842 1 R . PTA005307_70
    17 -2.4582  2  1929.0   1885.0  .1553   1.02    .16   1.05    .37  .0146    .06   1.00  97.7  97.8   .08   .15 -2.4470 1 R . PTA005414_70
    18  1.3792  2  1929.0   1092.0  .0469    .98  -1.47    .98  -1.65 -.2220    .26   1.00  59.3  59.7   .24   .48  1.3792 1 R . PTA005475_23
    19  -.7236  2  1929.0   1740.0  .0730    .87  -2.53    .80  -3.27 -.1616    .21   1.00  90.2  88.7   .16   .29  -.7216 1 R . PTA005571_40
    20 -1.1321  2  1929.0   1776.0  .0855    .99   -.08    .93   -.81  .0115    .18   1.00  92.1  92.1   .14   .27 -1.1291 1 R . PTA005601_70
    21  -.7297  2  1929.0   1711.0  .0741   1.03    .50   1.08   1.21  .0101    .10   1.00  88.7  88.8   .16   .32  -.7277 1 R . PTA005603_60
    22 -1.7209  2  1929.0   1840.0  .1099    .99   -.08    .91   -.78  .0132    .17   1.00  95.4  95.4   .11   .21 -1.7155 1 R . PTA005610_23
    23   .8286  2  1929.0   1304.0  .0488    .94  -3.86    .93  -3.90 -.1693    .27   1.00  69.1  65.3   .23   .45   .8289 1 R . PTA005690_33
    24  -.6034  2  1929.0   1677.0  .0711   1.03    .70   1.05    .81  .0541    .17   1.00  86.9  87.5   .16   .33  -.6017 1 R . PTA005920_31
    25  -.6868  2  1929.0   1675.0  .0755   1.10   1.82   1.06    .90  .1475    .21   1.00  86.9  88.4   .16   .33  -.6849 1 R . PTA006330_11
    26  -.0967  2  1929.0   1596.0  .0593    .98   -.50   1.06   1.28 -.1148    .07   1.00  82.5  81.2   .19   .38  -.0957 1 R . PTA006348_32
    27   .2022  2  1929.0   1474.0  .0554   1.02    .77   1.03   1.01 -.0044    .16   1.00  76.4  76.5   .21   .42   .2029 1 R . PTA006627_13
    28 -1.2412  2  1929.0   1780.0  .0930   1.08   1.09   1.16   1.78  .0919    .10   1.00  92.3  92.9   .13   .26 -1.2379 1 R . PTA006630_11
    29 -1.5136  2  1929.0   1821.0  .1004    .98   -.21    .84  -1.63  .0128    .21   1.00  94.4  94.5   .12   .22 -1.5093 1 R . PTA006738_13
    30  1.9252  2  1929.0    751.0  .0491   1.04   2.98   1.05   2.79 -.0087    .16   1.00  60.2  63.6   .24   .48  1.9250 1 R . PTA006924_31
    31  -.2486  2  1929.0   1547.0  .0669   1.16   3.88   1.20   3.91  .2150    .15   1.00  80.4  83.3   .18   .40  -.2474 1 R . PTA007213_60
    32   .1530  2  1929.0   1487.0  .0555   1.00   -.01    .98   -.53  .0054    .22   1.00  77.2  77.3   .20   .41   .1538 1 R . PTA007275_35
    33   .7798  2  1929.0   1324.0  .0491    .87  -7.76    .85  -7.74 -.1709    .39   1.00  72.1  66.2   .23   .43   .7801 1 R . PTA007397_35
    34 -1.3984  2  1929.0   1804.0  .0979   1.05    .62   1.06    .69  .0561    .12   1.00  93.5  93.8   .12   .24 -1.3945 1 R . PTA007464_29
    35   .1500  2  1929.0   1488.0  .0567   1.04   1.44   1.06   1.70  .0053    .12   1.00  77.1  77.3   .20   .42   .1508 1 R . PTA007703_29
    36  1.6427  2  1929.0    875.0  .0474   1.01    .95   1.02   1.53 -.0062    .22   1.00  59.9  60.5   .24   .49  1.6426 1 R . PTA007725_24
    37  1.1037  2  1929.0   1164.0  .0476   1.01    .46   1.00    .06 -.1101    .20   1.00  60.3  61.6   .24   .48  1.1039 1 R . PTA007854_29
    38  1.0442  2  1929.0   1067.0  .0492   1.06   4.81   1.07   4.39  .1684    .17   1.00  57.6  62.2   .24   .49  1.0444 1 R . PTA007975_24
    39  -.5309  2  1929.0   1671.0  .0682    .96   -.74    .87  -2.30  .0091    .28   1.00  86.7  86.7   .17   .33  -.5293 1 R . PTA008026_23
    40 -2.1927  2  1929.0   1879.0  .1361    .87  -1.03    .68  -2.43 -.1197    .17   1.00  97.4  97.1   .09   .16 -2.1841 1 R . PTA008392_11
    41   .7410  2  1929.0   1274.0  .0494    .97  -1.95    .95  -2.26 -.0069    .29   1.00  67.5  66.8   .23   .45   .7414 1 R . PTA008409_32
    42  1.7573  2  1929.0    756.0  .0485   1.05   3.77   1.06   3.81  .1468    .10   1.00  59.0  61.5   .24   .49  1.7571 1 R . PTA008437_35
    43   .2792  2  1929.0   1423.0  .0552   1.05   1.88   1.05   1.55  .0673    .18   1.00  73.8  75.1   .21   .43   .2799 1 R . PTA008511_13
    44  1.3313  2  1929.0   1127.0  .0472   1.01    .79   1.01    .86 -.2530    .20   1.00  59.9  59.9   .24   .49  1.3313 1 R . PTA008589_25
    45   .0062  2  1929.0   1539.0  .0576   1.00   -.06   1.00    .10 -.0145    .18   1.00  79.4  79.6   .20   .39   .0071 1 R . PTA008618_29
    46  1.0992  2  1929.0   1048.0  .0484   1.04   3.00   1.04   2.93  .1555    .21   1.00  58.7  61.6   .24   .49  1.0994 1 R . PTA008673_80
    47   .5351  2  1929.0   1352.0  .0522   1.04   2.06   1.06   2.20  .0027    .14   1.00  69.7  70.5   .22   .46   .5356 1 R . PTA008822_33
    48 -1.2679  1   320.0    298.0  .2238   1.00    .05    .88   -.50  .0014    .18   1.00  93.1  93.1   .14   .25 -1.2473 1 R . PTA008843_24_PTA06801
    49  1.8551  1   328.0    133.0  .1155    .99   -.41    .98   -.40  .0020    .25   1.00  64.3  62.2   .23   .47  1.8539 1 R . PTA008851_24_PTA06802
    50  1.4776  2  1929.0    879.0  .0469    .93  -6.70    .92  -6.57  .1495    .37   1.00  65.5  59.7   .24   .47  1.4776 1 R . PTA008879_26
;;;;

data check;
set want;
if entry in (1,48);
run;

proc print data=check noobs;
run;

Result:

1	0.3771	2	1929	1369	0.0530	1.01	0.48	0.98	-0.59	0.1168	0.30	1	71.3	73.4	0.21	0.43	0.3777	1	R	.	PTA001830_50
48	-1.2679	1	320	298	0.2238	1.00	0.05	0.88	-0.50	0.0014	0.18	1	93.1	93.1	0.14	0.25	-1.2473	1	R	.	PTA008843_24_PTA06801

[Tom]

In your example every value has something, even if it is just a period.  So simple list mode input will work.

Note you do NOT want to add a decimal part to an INFORMAT (like the 8.4 in your original code) unless you know that the decimal has been deliberately eliminated from the text to save a character.  Otherwise values without decimal points will be divided by the power of ten to add in the implied decimal point before the last D characters.

So assuming that only the last variable is the only character variable (and that those "R" values in variable M is some type of missing indication) then add the missing statement to let SAS know to read the letter R as meaning the special missing value of .R.

So your program could be as simple as this:

missing R ;
data want;
  infile 'X:\aaaa\bbb\ccc\Winst' firstobs=3 truncover;
  input
    ENTRY MEASURE ST COUNT SCORE REALSE IN_MSQ IN_ZST OUT_MS OUT_ZS
   DISPL PTMA WEIGHT OBSMA EXPMA PMA_E RMSR WMLE G M R 
   NAME :$20.
  ;
run;

Results:

122   data _null_;
123    set want;
124    put (_n_ _all_) (=);
125   run;

_N_=1 ENTRY=1 MEASURE=0.3771 ST=2 COUNT=1929 SCORE=1369 REALSE=0.053
IN_MSQ=1.01 IN_ZST=0.48 OUT_MS=0.98 OUT_ZS=-0.59 DISPL=0.1168 PTMA=0.3
WEIGHT=1 OBSMA=71.3 EXPMA=73.4 PMA_E=0.21 RMSR=0.43 WMLE=0.3777 G=1 M=R R=.
NAME=ABC001830_50
_N_=2 ENTRY=2 MEASURE=-0.3008 ST=2 COUNT=1929 SCORE=1556 REALSE=0.066
IN_MSQ=1.09 IN_ZST=2.2 OUT_MS=0.98 OUT_ZS=-0.38 DISPL=0.2365 PTMA=0.35
WEIGHT=1 OBSMA=80.6 EXPMA=84 PMA_E=0.18 RMSR=0.38 WMLE=-0.2995 G=1 M=R R=.
NAME=ABC002178_12
_N_=3 ENTRY=3 MEASURE=0.5741 ST=2 COUNT=1929 SCORE=1336 REALSE=0.0509
IN_MSQ=1.01 IN_ZST=0.5 OUT_MS=1.01 OUT_ZS=0.35 DISPL=0.0051 PTMA=0.21
WEIGHT=1 OBSMA=69.4 EXPMA=69.8 PMA_E=0.22 RMSR=0.45 WMLE=0.5746 G=1 M=R R=.
NAME=ABC003680_32

If you have some values that are only represented by spaces or if some values are placed right next to each other without any spaces between them then use column mode.   You will need check the start/end columns for each variable.  That is easy to do using the regular old PROGRAM EDITOR in SAS Display Manager.  Or by using the LIST statement in a data step.

91    data _null_;
92      infile dat firstobs=2 obs=3;
93      input;
94      list;
95    run;

NOTE: The infile DAT is:
      Filename=...
      RECFM=V,LRECL=32767,File Size (bytes)=595,
      Last Modified=29Aug2020:17:05:27,
      Create Time=29Aug2020:17:05:27

RULE:     ----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7----+----8----+----9----+----0
2         ;ENTRY MEASURE ST   COUNT    SCORE REALSE IN.MSQ IN.ZST OUT.MS OUT.ZS  DISPL   PTMA WEIGHT OBSMA EXP
     101  MA PMA-E  RMSR    WMLE G M R NAME 133
3              1   .3771  2  1929.0   1369.0  .0530   1.01    .48    .98   -.59  .1168    .30   1.00  71.3  73
     101  .4   .21   .43   .3777 1 R . ABC001830_50 141
NOTE: 2 records were read from the infile DAT.
      The minimum record length was 133.
      The maximum record length was 141.

So your input statement might look like:

  input
    ENTRY 1-6 MEASURE 7-14 ST 15-17 COUNT 18-25 
    ...
    NAME $ 130-141
  ;

[jimbarbour]

@superbug,

I just pulled the data into Enterprise Guide and clicked on "Import Data".  EG, then generated the following program:

/* --------------------------------------------------------------------
   Code generated by a SAS task
   
   Generated on Friday, August 28, 2020 at 11:03:36 PM
   By task:     Import Data Wizard
   
   Source file:
   C:\Users\jbarbou3\Documents\SAS\Pgm\Training\Community\Superbug_Dat
   a.txt
   Server:      Local File System
   
   Output data: WORK.Superbug_Data
   Server:      Local
   -------------------------------------------------------------------- */

DATA WORK.Superbug_Data;
    LENGTH
        ENTRY              8
        MEASURE            8
        ST                 8
        COUNT              8
        SCORE              8
        REALSE             8
        IN_MSQ             8
        IN_ZST             8
        OUT_MS             8
        OUT_ZS             8
        DISPL              8
        PTMA               8
        WEIGHT             8
        OBSMA              8
        EXPMA              8
        PMA_E              8
        RMSR               8
        WMLE               8
        G                  8
        M                $ 2
        R                  8
        NAME             $ 13 ;
    LABEL
        IN_MSQ           = "IN.MSQ"
        IN_ZST           = "IN.ZST"
        OUT_MS           = "OUT.MS"
        OUT_ZS           = "OUT.ZS"
        PMA_E            = "PMA-E" ;
    FORMAT
        ENTRY            BEST5.
        MEASURE          BEST8.
        ST               BEST3.
        COUNT            BEST8.
        SCORE            BEST9.
        REALSE           BEST7.
        IN_MSQ           BEST7.
        IN_ZST           BEST7.
        OUT_MS           BEST7.
        OUT_ZS           BEST7.
        DISPL            BEST7.
        PTMA             BEST7.
        WEIGHT           BEST7.
        OBSMA            BEST6.
        EXPMA            BEST6.
        PMA_E            BEST6.
        RMSR             BEST6.
        WMLE             BEST8.
        G                BEST2.
        M                $CHAR2.
        R                BEST2.
        NAME             $CHAR13. ;
    INFORMAT
        ENTRY            BEST5.
        MEASURE          BEST8.
        ST               BEST3.
        COUNT            BEST8.
        SCORE            BEST9.
        REALSE           BEST7.
        IN_MSQ           BEST7.
        IN_ZST           BEST7.
        OUT_MS           BEST7.
        OUT_ZS           BEST7.
        DISPL            BEST7.
        PTMA             BEST7.
        WEIGHT           BEST7.
        OBSMA            BEST6.
        EXPMA            BEST6.
        PMA_E            BEST6.
        RMSR             BEST6.
        WMLE             BEST8.
        G                BEST2.
        M                $CHAR2.
        R                BEST2.
        NAME             $CHAR13. ;
    INFILE 'C:\Users\jbarbou3\Documents\SAS\Pgm\Training\Community\Superbug_Data.txt'
        LRECL=512
        FIRSTOBS=3
        ENCODING="WLATIN1"
        TRUNCOVER ;
    INPUT
        @2     ENTRY            ?? BEST5.
        @7     MEASURE          ?? COMMA8.
        @15    ST               ?? BEST3.
        @18    COUNT            ?? COMMA8.
        @26    SCORE            ?? COMMA9.
        @35    REALSE           ?? COMMA7.
        @42    IN_MSQ           ?? COMMA7.
        @49    IN_ZST           ?? COMMA7.
        @56    OUT_MS           ?? COMMA7.
        @63    OUT_ZS           ?? COMMA7.
        @70    DISPL            ?? COMMA7.
        @77    PTMA             ?? COMMA7.
        @84    WEIGHT           ?? COMMA7.
        @91    OBSMA            ?? COMMA6.
        @97    EXPMA            ?? COMMA6.
        @103   PMA_E            ?? COMMA6.
        @109   RMSR             ?? COMMA6.
        @115   WMLE             ?? COMMA8.
        @123   G                ?? BEST2.
        @125   M                $CHAR2.
        @127   R                ?? BEST2.
        @129   NAME             $CHAR13. ;
RUN;

Everything looks fine when I look at the data in the "Output Data" tab.  Why don't you try running that?

Jim