The input methods are used to read the raw data. The raw data may be from an external source or from in stream datalines. The input statement creates a variable with the name that you assign to each field. So you have to create a variable in the Input Statement. The same variable will be shown in the output of SAS Dataset. Below are different input methods available in SAS.

List Input Method
Named Input Method
Column Input Method
Formatted Input Method

The details of each input method is described as below.

List Input Method

In this method the variables are listed with the data types. The raw data is carefully analysed so that the order of the variables declared matches the data. The delimiter (usually space) should be uniform between any pair of adjacent columns. Any missing data will cause problem in the output as the result will be wrong.

Example

The following code and the output shows the use of list input method.

DATA TEMP;
INPUT   EMPID ENAME $ DEPT $ ;
DATALINES;

1 Rick  IT

2 Dan  OPS

3 Tusar  IT

4 Pranab  OPS

5 Rasmi  FIN
;

PROC PRINT DATA = TEMP;
RUN;

On running the above code we get the following output.

Named Input Method

In this method the variables are listed with the data types. The raw data is modified to have variable names declared in front of the matching data. The delimiter (usually space) should be uniform between any pair of adjacent columns.

Example

The following code and the output show the use of Named Input Method.

DATA TEMP;

INPUT

EMPID= ENAME= $ DEPT= $ ;

DATALINES;

EMPID = 1 ENAME = Rick  DEPT = IT

EMPID = 2 ENAME = Dan  DEPT = OPS

EMPID = 3 ENAME = Tusar  DEPT = IT

EMPID = 4 ENAME = Pranab  DEPT = OPS

EMPID = 5 ENAME = Rasmi  DEPT = FIN

;

PROC PRINT DATA = TEMP;

RUN;

On running the bove code we get the following output.

Column Input Method

In this method the variables are listed with the data types and width of the columns which specify the value of the single column of data. For example if an employee name contains maximum 9 characters and each employee name starts at 10th column, then the column width for employee name variable will be 10-19.

Example

Following code shows the use of Column Input Method.

DATA TEMP;

INPUT   EMPID 1-3 ENAME $ 4-12 DEPT $ 13-16;

DATALINES;

14 Rick     IT

241Dan      OPS

30 Sanvi    IT

410Chanchal OPS

52 Piyu     FIN

;

PROC PRINT DATA = TEMP;

RUN;

When we execute above code, it produces following result −

Formatted Input Method

In this method the variables are read from a fixed starting point until a space is encountered. As every variable has a fixed starting point, the number of columns between any pair of variables becomes the width of the first variable. The character ‘@n’ is used to specify the starting column position of a variable as the nth column.

Example

The following code shows the use of Formatted Input Method

DATA TEMP;

INPUT   @1 EMPID $ @4 ENAME $ @13 DEPT $ ;

DATALINES;

14 Rick     IT

241 Dan      OPS

30 Sanvi    IT

410 Chanchal OPS

52 Piyu     FIN

;

PROC PRINT DATA = TEMP;

RUN;

When we execute above code, it produces following result −

So, this brings us to the end of blog. This Tecklearn ‘Input Methods in SAS’ blog helps you with commonly asked questions if you are looking out for a job in SAS. If you wish to learn SAS and build a career in Data Analytics domain, then check out our interactive, SAS Training for SAS BASE Certification Training, that comes with 24*7 support to guide you throughout your learning period. Please find the link for course details:

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Introduction to SAS

Introduction to SAS
Installation of SAS
SAS windows
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SAS Enterprise Guide

How to read and subset the data sets
SET Statement
Infile and Infile Options
SAS Format -Format Vs Informat

SAS Operators and Functions

Using Variables
Defining and using KEEP and DROP statements
Output Statement
Retain Statement
SUM Statement

Advanced SAS Procedures

PROC Import
PROC Print
Data Step Vs Proc
Deep Dive into Proc

Customizing Datasets

SAS Arrays
Useful SAS Functions
PUT/INPUT Functions
Date/Time Functions
Numeric Functions
Character Functions

SAS Format and SAS Graphs

SAS Format statements
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Sorting Techniques

NODUP
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Data Transformation Function

Character functions, numeric functions and converting variable type
Use functions in data transformation

Deep Dive into SAS Procedures, Functions and Statements

Find Function
Scan Function
MERGE Statement
BY Statement
Joins
Procedures Vs Function
Where Vs If
What is Missover
NMISS
CMISS

PROC SQL

SELECT statement
Sorting of Data
CASE expression
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JOINS and UNIONS

Using SAS Macros

Benefits of SAS Macros
Macro Variables
Macro Code Constituents and Macro Step
Positional Parameters to Macros

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