Output missing values as length 0

[Jim_Cooper_hmsa]

 A business partner requires a pipe-delimited (|) record format where missing values are represented as a zero length field or two consecutive pipe characters (||).  We have tried formats, compress() function, and system option MISSING='' to force length zero for missing values in a PUT statement but the record always returns a single blank space between two pipe characters (| |).  Is there a way to remove the single blank space for output without having to remove blank spaces after the file is created with a utility program (e.g. PowerShell)?  We are trying to automate this process if possible.

[FreelanceReinh · Accepted solution]

Hello @Jim_Cooper_hmsa,

Add the DSD option to the FILE statement.

Example:

93    data _null_;
94    file log dlm='|' dsd;
95    x='ABC';
96    y=' ';
97    z='DEF';
98    m=.;
99    n=123;
100   put x y z m n;
101   run;

ABC||DEF||123
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):

The same code without the DSD option yields

ABC| |DEF|.|123