James Yang has a problem with reading some data

I think it needs very few changes (as below) to make the input statement reproduce the input file.... but (see later)

James Yang <jamesy99@HOTMAIL.COM> writes >When I read in raw data, I faced following strange problem. Please kindly >provide your valuable advice. Thanks!!!!! > >FILE1 is the external file which I want to read in, the data look like this: > >S001, 02-AUG-91, 02-AUG-91, SUM1, A >S002, 11-AUG-90, 11-AUG-90, SUM1, B > >I wrote following program to read in this data; > >Data test; > infile file1 dsd; > input Studid & enrdate date9. enrdate1 date9. sem $ grade $;

Change that input statement to this input Studid $ enrdate & date9. enrdate1 & date9. sem $ grade $;

It worked for me on win95 v6.12 ts045 But .... see below

> format enrdate enrdate1 date9.; >run; > >Follwoing is the strange output; > >STUDID ENRDATE ENRDATE1 SEM GRADE >S001 02AUG1991 02AUG1909 1 SUM1 >S002 11AUG1990 11AUG1909 0 SUM1 > >The first one ENRDATE read the correct date, but for ENRDATE1, the year add >a '0' and remove the last digit of the year to the next var. I don't know >why and how to deal with this. So if you can provide your helpful advice, it >would be apprecited pretty much. Thanks! > >James >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

The apparent confusing result has various causes

* mixing input styles can cause confused input DSD implies variable width data using delimiters to separate columns so use list input *without* informats in the input statement - those informats can be provided on an informat statement.

* Not only have you comma delimiters, but also a blank - there are easier solutions than using : or & before informats -- If you always have data in the columns, you can replace DSD with DLM= and use both blank and comma as your delimiters with this infile statement infile file1 dlm = ' ,' ;

* variable width needs support for short data in the last column -- it isn't a problem here, but accompany DSD and DLM= with TRUNCOVER on your infile statement and you'll avoid that trouble

* you haven't set your YEARCUTOFF option and it defaults to 1900

Good luck, and try all the options.....

-- Peter Crawford