Creating a SAS Data Set from a Raw Data File

To read the raw data file, SAS must receive the following information in the DATA step:
  • the location or name of the external text file
  • a name for the new SAS data set
  • a reference that identifies the external file
  • a description of the data values to be read
After using the DATA step to read the raw data, you can use a PROC PRINT step to produce a report that displays the data values that are in the new data set.
The table below outlines the basic statements that are used in a program that reads raw data in fixed fields.
Table 6.2 Statements for Reading Raw Data
Task
SAS Statement
Reference a SAS library
LIBNAME statement
Reference an external file
FILENAME ...

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