checking number of columns in a csv file

[Taliah]

Hi,

Is there a code to know the number of columns in a csv file?

We are using a program that inputs csv files. There are sometimes errors in the input files, were they have fewer columns then they need to have. I am looking for a way to check the number of columns. If less/more then required, I will write a code to send a warning (that is not a problem). Thank you.

[Kurt_Bremser]

data _null_;
infile "path_to_your_file" lrecl=1000; /* set lrecl to sufficient value */
input;
call symputx("no_of_columns",countw(_infile_,","));
stop;
run;

The macro variable will contain the number of column names found in the header line.

[Taliah]

great, Thank you!

I see the code you sent works with and without lrecl. Do you know if I can leave that out?

in the input code I use:

data test;

infile "[path and file] "  dlm=","  firstobs=1;

length a b c ...8;

input a b c...;

format a b c ... best12.;

run;

the code you sent to check number of columns works fine the way you sent it and without lrecl

Thank you

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

Old habits die hard 😉

Since I mainly used INFILE in my professional work for fixed-length files (RECFM=F) where thde default LRECL is 256, I tend to always set it.

But for variable-length files, the default is 32767, so no separate LRECL is needed.