Selectively Quote variables when output them to csv.

[david27]

So I do the below, and it quotes some variables when they have a comma in them.

I want put quotes on selective column like Horsepower ONLY.

Please adivse.

data _null_;
    file "/path/output/unix/cars.csv"
    dsd dlm = ',';
    set sashelp.cars;
    if _n_ = 1 then put @1 
    "Make,Model,Type,Origin,DriveTrain,MSRP,Invoice,EngineSize,Cylinders,Horsepower,MPG_City,MPG_Highway,Weight,Wheelbase,Length"; 
    put Make
		Model
		Type
		Origin
		DriveTrain
		MSRP
		Invoice
		EngineSize
		Cylinders
		Horsepower
		MPG_City
		MPG_Highway
		Weight
		Wheelbase
		Length;
run;

[Tom · Accepted solution]

You can force PUT to add quotes even when the value being written does not need them by using the ~ modifier.

Example:  You see that the values of MSRP require quotes because they contain the delimiter, but values for ENGINESIZE and MODEL do not.

428  data _null_;
429    set sashelp.cars(obs=5);
430    file log dsd ;
431  put
432    Make
433    Model
434    MSRP
435    EngineSize
436    Cylinders
437    Horsepower ~
438    MPG_City
439  ;
440  run;

Acura,MDX,"$36,945",3.5,6,"265",17
Acura,RSX Type S 2dr,"$23,820",2,4,"200",24
Acura,TSX 4dr,"$26,990",2.4,4,"200",22
Acura,TL 4dr,"$33,195",3.2,6,"270",20
Acura,3.5 RL 4dr,"$43,755",3.5,6,"225",18
NOTE: There were 5 observations read from the data set SASHELP.CARS.

But why would you want to make your output file larger than it needs to be?

[david27]

To match someone else's output for validation purposes.

Why this other person adds quotes around variables that don't need it-- I have no idea.

[david27]

Quick question:
Is there a way to conditionally quote the values?

For example-- put quotes only if the horsepower is more than 250?

[Tom]

Use IF statement.

458  data _null_;
459    set sashelp.cars(obs=5);
460    file log dsd ;
461  put
462    Make
463    Model
464    MSRP
465    EngineSize
466    Cylinders
467    @
468  ;
469  if horsepower > 250 then put Horsepower ~ @;
470  else put Horsepower @;
471  put
472    MPG_City
473  ;
474  run;

Acura,MDX,"$36,945",3.5,6,"265",17
Acura,RSX Type S 2dr,"$23,820",2,4,200,24
Acura,TSX 4dr,"$26,990",2.4,4,200,22
Acura,TL 4dr,"$33,195",3.2,6,"270",20
Acura,3.5 RL 4dr,"$43,755",3.5,6,225,18
NOTE: There were 5 observations read from the data set SASHELP.CARS.