SAS is not reading my data file correctly/

[ashb]

Hello everyone,

I am really new (and really bad) at SAS, and I am having trouble with having SAS read my data set correctly. Here is the code I wrote:

data 'C:\Users\bamfo\Downloads\bpx_j.sas7bdat';
run;

And this is the log I received:

1    data 'C:\Users\bamfo\Downloads\bpx_j.sas7bdat';
2    run;

NOTE: The data set C:\Users\bamfo\Downloads\bpx_j.sas7bdat has 1 observations and 0 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.13 seconds
      cpu time            0.06 seconds

I downloaded this dataset from my class website. I know from looking at my data without SAS that the amount of variables in the data set is much more lengthy than just 1 observation and 0 variables. Did I type something wrong?

[Kurt_Bremser]

The DATA statement initiates a data step, and the dataset(s) named in this statement will be created.

To use your dataset in a procedure (to print it, make a report, do analysis), you use it in the DATA= option of the respective PROCEDURE statement.

To read it into a data step, you either use the SET or MERGE statements.

The preferred way to use a dataset is to specify a LIBNAME and use the library to access it.

Example:

libname download "C:\Users\bamfo\Downloads";

data test; /* a single-level name will put this new dataset in library WORK */
set download.bpx_j;
run;

[ashb]

Thanks for your detailed message. What do you mean by single level name?

[Kurt_Bremser]

data test; /* no library specified - single level */
set download.bpx_j; /* library specified - two level */

---

@ashb wrote:
Thanks for your detailed message. What do you mean by single level name?

---

[ashb]

Got it, thanks!

[Kurt_Bremser]

PS Since your data step overwrote the dataset, you have to re-download it.

[ashb]

So basically using data instead of libname in the first line of code overwrites the dataset?

[ChrisNZ]

What do your course notes say?

[ashb]

The notes say that libname is used to create a permanent library to access data sets from. This is the preferred way, however in the Little SAS book, I read that the data step can be used to directly read a dataset into SAS without specifying or creating a library using libname. Or perhaps I'm misinterpreting what they mean?

[Kurt_Bremser]

A dataset named in the DATA statement will be written to. If it exists, it will be overwritten, if not, created.

[ChrisNZ]

1. The data keyword creates a data set, so you not reading anything here.

  You have overwritten your data set actually.

2. Surely you have learnt how to use SAS. What the keyword to start a statement when you want to read a data set?

3. I am unsure how you are taught, but the string  sas7bdat   is normally never seen in a program.

What does your course say?

[ashb]

I know the step is libname, but I thought you could use data to directly read a dataset into SAS without specifying a library?

[Kurt_Bremser]

---

@ashb wrote:
I know the step is libname, but I thought you could use data to directly read a dataset into SAS without specifying a library?

---

Yes, you can, but no, you don't.

Using a library definition (LIBNAME) and a two-level name (library.dataset) is much easier than always writing out the complete filename. And if the location changes, you change ONE libname definition instead of a gazillion DATA/SET/MERGE/whatever statements or options.

[ashb]

I see. That may be my problem then, because I would have trouble with coding with other assignments after using the data step rather than the libname step.

[Kurt_Bremser]

Once you have libraries for locations defined, you can always use them. Translating whole filenames to libname.dataset notation will be a breeze once you've done it a few times.