Reading raw files

[BURHAN_CIGDEM]

Hello all;

 I try to create a SAS data set from raw data file.  For example, the structure of raw data file is like that;

      11412/12/00LAX

Now, when i submit SAS Code as :

   data Sas-data-set-name;
     infile 'raw-data-filename';
     input Flight $ 1-3 Date $4-11 Dest $ 12-14;
   run;

it works fine. But when i dont use $ sign for Date variable, it becomes missing value. As i know SAS store date values as numeric.So why we have to use $ sign for date when we create SAS data set from raw data file.

Any help is appreciated !

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

You need to assign an informat (fitting to the way dates are written in the infile) to your date variable. Then you can read the date as numeric.

Also assign a date display format, to make the date value human-readable.

[BURHAN_CIGDEM]

Thank you Mr.Bremser, i got it.