The physical position is counted in computing-typical way, starting at zero. That's why the second variable starts at 8, and not at 9. Address of variable within a dataset page = starting address of observation + npos. This is, of course, different from the way string positions are handled in SAS code, where the first position is defined as 1. You need to see the distinction between SAS language, which is heavily targeted towards non-programmer users and "everyday thinking", and internal values for technical means, where the values as used in CPU registers are important. ... View more

I felt that I was not doing something right when those options are not working properly but thanks for the suggestions:) @Reeza  ... View more

Yes but then you can't control the file name or style. ... View more

Formats convert values to text. They are used when displaying the data. In code you can use them in PUT statement or PUT() function. Informats convert text into values.  They are only used when reading text.  So they are used by INPUT statement or INPUT() function. ... View more

@mdoddala    We all started as beginners, so don't let that trouble you. I know it is difficult, because SAS is not like other tools on your PC. SAS is old. A few core technologies may have survived, but SAS is probably the one and only end user tool that has been with us since data processing meant MVS systems with card punchers for input and line printers for output. I remember writing a SAS program when somebody came to tell me that Ronald Reagan had beaten Carter, and it is a marvel that a platform is still readily available to run that program today.   SAS was easier to learn in those days. In the beginning was the Data Step and a few procedures, but SAS evolved and expanded to cover new technologies. Display Manager came with CRT terminals, SAS Macro language arrived to add a scripting language to SAS, with relational databases came ODBC, SQL came as the new highlight of end-user query tools and was added to SAS also, New presentation technologies found their way into SAS with the Output Delivery System and so on. Now SAS VIYA has arrived and will over time relegate people like me to dinosaurs, but that is another story.   As an old SAS hand one had a lifetime to adopt to all these new possibilities, but a new user today will get the whole package with tools an tiers and metadata and what not. It is like a whole world of its own, and no single person can be an expert in all parts of it, but SAS version 9 is still based on the good old principles, the core is a batch system, and all SAS applications from Display Manager to SAS Studio are just interfaces that helps the user to write a program, submit it to processing in background and retrive the result.   This makes SAS stand apart from most applications that interact with a database. SAS does not handle transactions, but whole files and data sets, and this concept is difficult to comprehend for a Java or Visual Studio programmer. It is a different way of thinking, and an understanding of the concept of steps as separate blocks connected only via data files or -sets is necessary together with knowledge of the language elements and the way SAS handles a program, just as knowing the principles of boiling and roasting is essential to utilize an induction range.   A new user may find it difficult to get a starting point, but in my opinion the best way in is "The Little SAS Bok, a primer". It is now in 5. edition and not so little anymore, but it takes you in hand and guides you all the way from a having a basic understanding to become a full fledged SAS programmer. This link gives an introduction to the book: https://www.sas.com/storefront/aux/en/splsb/65423_excerpt.pdf ... View more

@mdoddala    We all started as beginners, so don't let that trouble you. I know it is difficult, because SAS is not like other tools on your PC. SAS is old. A few core technologies may have survived, but SAS is probably the one and only end user tool that has been with us since data processing meant MVS systems with card punchers for input and line printers for output. I remember writing a SAS program when somebody came to tell me that Ronald Reagan had beaten Carter, and it is a marvel that a platform is still readily available to run that program today.   SAS was easier to learn in those days. In the beginning was the Data Step and a few procedures, but SAS evolved and expanded to cover new technologies. Display Manager came with CRT terminals, SAS Macro language arrived to add a scripting language to SAS, with relational databases came ODBC, SQL came as the new highlight of end-user query tools and was added to SAS also, New presentation technologies found their way into SAS with the Output Delivery System and so on. Now SAS VIYA has arrived and will over time relegate people like me to dinosaurs, but that is another story.   As an old SAS hand one had a lifetime to adopt to all these new possibilities, but a new user today will get the whole package with tools an tiers and metadata and what not. It is like a whole world of its own, and no single person can be an expert in all parts of it, but SAS version 9 is still based on the good old principles, the core is a batch system, and all SAS applications from Display Manager to SAS Studio are just interfaces that helps the user to write a program, submit it to processing in background and retrive the result.   This makes SAS stand apart from most applications that interact with a database. SAS does not handle transactions, but whole files and data sets, and this concept is difficult to comprehend for a Java or Visual Studio programmer. It is a different way of thinking, and an understanding of the concept of steps as separate blocks connected only via data files or -sets is necessary together with knowledge of the language elements and the way SAS handles a program, just as knowing the principles of boiling and roasting is essential to utilize an induction range.   A new user may find it difficult to get a starting point, but in my opinion the best way in is "The Little SAS Bok, a primer". It is now in 5. edition and not so little anymore, but it takes you in hand and guides you all the way from a having a basic understanding to become a full fledged SAS programmer. This link gives an introduction to the book: https://www.sas.com/storefront/aux/en/splsb/65423_excerpt.pdf ... View more

Thank you so much @Reeza for your response:) ... View more

Thank you so much:) ... View more