Ch. 2: Getting Your Data into SAS

1
Ch. 2 Getting Your Data into SAS

• At OSEDA we try to ease the burden of converting
  data by having data already in SAS data set
  format in the archive.
• But it is still important that you know how to
  convert your own.
• If you understand input statements and proc
  import, youll be well on your way to how to use
  put statements and proc export.

2
Four Basic Methods

• Direct data entry via Viewtable or SAS/FSP
  windows.
• Reading raw data files (ascii) with input
  statements.
• Converting files from other packages such as dbf,
  xls, wkn -- usually via proc import.
• Accessing data in other DB formats directly via
  special engines that make them look like SAS data
  sets. (Oracle access, for example.)

3
Entering Data Directly via Windows

• Not used much here. This is usually done as part
  of an on-line transaction system, which is not
  something we do much with SAS.
• It can be done, however, and can be quite
  sophisticated.

4
Reading Raw Data with Input Stmts

• This has been traditionally the most important
  way we capture our data.
• This requires the most knowledge of SAS language
  to do. Sometimes the format of the data makes it
  quite challenging.
• Reading .csv files has become very important and
  common. SAS makes it pretty easy.

5
Converting xls, dbf, etc.

• DDE (Windows only) option. Requires having the
  other application running during conversion.
• Proc import and the Import Data Wizard is
  easiest.
• Exporting the other applications data to csv and
  then importing remains an option.

6
Reading SPSS, Oracle, etc.

• We now have special engines that can be used to
  make things such as Oracle tables look just like
  a SAS data set.
• We have had good success accessing Oracle tables
  via the engine.
• Nice part of doing it this way is that if the
  source data changes you do not have to reconvert.
  Sometimes, thats a problem.

7
Reading Raw Data Files

• For small data collections you can imbed the data
  lines in your own code, preceded by a datalines
  statement.
• Most of the time youll be dealing with data
  stored in external files.
• The infile statement is used to point SAS to the
  file to be read. The input statement does the
  actual reading.

8
Accessing the Sample Code

• Go to URLhttp//ftp.sas.com/samples/A56649
• Cut and paste to get individual programs

9
Long Records

• An annoying gotcha is the default of truncating
  input lines at 256 bytes.
• Easy to circumvent if you know to code
  lrecl2000 (or some large value) as option on
  the infile statement. Sets up the buffer size -
  it does not mean the records have to really be
  that long. They just cant be longer.

10
Space Separated Data

• Avoid this except for really small sets of data
  that you are keying in yourself.
• Too easy for something to go wrong.
• Character data containing blanks are a big
  problem.

11
Reading Fixed Format File

• These are files where the fields are in the
  same column locations on each input line.
• Read using a combination of column and formatted
  read specifications.
• A good idea is to use formatted input for
  everything. Keeps it simple.

12
Formatted vs. Column Input

• Input id 5. 1 year 4. 1 sales 7.
• Input id 1-5 year 7-10 sales 12-18
• input id char5. _at_7 year 4. _at_12 sales 7.
• input id char5. 1 year 4. 1 sales 7 -!-
• vs. free format
• input id year sales

13
SAS builtin formats

• Used within input (and put) statements (and
  functions) to convert to/from external formats to
  SAS internal formats.
• always used as 1st char of a character format
  or informat.
• Most references to formats require a period at
  the end to distinguish what it is.
• Input dob date7 lt--what happens?-

14
Rich Collection of Formats

• As seen on pp. 34-35 of TLSB.
• Most of these can be used to write data (in a put
  statement) as well as read data. They just
  reverse the conversion process.
• Note the wide assortment of data and time related
  formats.

15
Converting Raw Data at OSEDA

• Major purpose of creating data archive is to make
  the expensive and error-prone task of getting the
  data properly converted something that is done
  just once and by pro. programmers.
• Goal is to replace infile/input with set
  statements as much as possible. Make
  record-layout type documentation obsolete.

16
Need to Carefully Review

• It is extremely easy to make a mistake when
  coding complex input statements.
• Always review the resulting data set(s) very
  carefully before going on.
• Use Proc Contents and Proc Print in batch, or the
  corresponding interactive windows in DM to
  carefully inspect data sets.

17
SAS Data Sets

• Absolutely essential that you become very
  comfortable with what these are, how they are
  created, referenced, etc.
• For some reason, many new users see the way SAS
  handles data set references as really hard.
• But its really pretty simple.

18
New in V7 Data Set Literals

• Starting with v7 you can code data
  c\temp\boone_county
• Before v7 this was heresy. You always had to
  define the data library separately and use a
  2-level name to reference a data set within that
  directory libname tempsas c\temp data
  tempsas.boone_county

19
One Level Data Set Names

• References to SAS data sets that have only one
  level (I.e. no period such as save.set1) are
  assumed to be stored in a special temporary SAS
  data library named work.
• An important exception to this is if you define
  the specific user libref. If such a library is
  defined, SAS will store and look for all 1-level
  names in that data library.

20
SAS Data Libraries

• On Unix and Windows these are just collections of
  SAS data sets stored in directories.
• At least it used to be that simple. With v8 we
  can now define SAS data libraries that include
  multiple directories.
• But the latter kind are still rare around here.

21
Creating a Permanent SAS Data Set

• Typically involves something such as libname
  mysas s\myname\mysas data mysas.data0901
• The directory specified in quotes in the libname
  statement must be allocated outside SAS (using
  mkdir or the equivalent.)
• The data set is stored as a system file within
  that directory with name data0901. The extension
  will vary with the engine/SAS version/platform.

22
Entering Data with VT Window

• I have never done this or known anyone who has.
• One of our goals at OSEDA is to be able to have a
  record of how the data we use relates to the
  original source.
• Keying in data like this can be tricky in that it
  is way too easy to make a mistake that the
  software cannot detect.

23
Reading Multiple Input Lines

• The input statement typically reads one line of
  data to create one observation in a SAS data set.
  However, .
• You can use the / to tell SAS to go to the next
  input line, or 2 (or 3, etc.) to tell it to
  position itself at the 2nd line (relative to
  where it began reading.)

24
Load Data and Code for 2.12

• Go to the sample code at http//ftp.sas.com/sample
  s/A56649
• Search for text 2.12
• Go to Windows to create c\MyRawData.
• Type DM command note rawdata to open a SAS
  notepad window.
• Copy the data from your browser and paste it to
  the notepad window.

25
Data Code for 2.12 - cont.

• Use File-Save as to save the contents of the
  notepad window to c\MyRawData\temperature.dat
• Go back and get the sample data step code from
  the browser. Come back to SAS and paste the code
  into the editor window.
• Submit the code.

26
Multiple Obs Per Line of Raw Data

• Use the double trailing _at_ to tell SAS to stay on
  this line, even across cycles of the DATA step.
  (Default is to always flush the current record at
  the end of a d-s cycle.)
• data scores input name score
  _at__at_datalinesMike 25 Samuel 36 Melanie 40 Me
  2 proc print sum score run

27
Trailing _at_ to Read Part of Line

• A single trailing _at_ in an input stmt says to
  leave the data pointer where it is.
• Subsequent input statements in the same step will
  pick up where last input left off.
• But record is released at end of data step cycle
  (unlike with double trailing _at_).
• Allows you to read part of a record and then
  conditionally continue reading, or have
  alternative reads based on record type.

28
Infile Statement Options

• Firstobs and obs commonly used to begin/end
  at specific locations within file.
• Missover, truncover, and stopover (not in TLSB)
  specify how to handle case where SAS needs to go
  to a new line to complete the input read.

29
Reading Delimited (.csv) Files

• You almost always want to use the dsd option.
  Add option dlm09x for tab-delimited files.
• A problem with reading this way is that character
  variables may not get right length imputed.
• Strongly recommend declaring all vars before
  reading (prior to input statement.)

30
Example of Reading csv File

• data class
• length stud_id 6 Name 24 Address 40 City 20
  State 2 zip 5 gpa 5
• infile datalines dsd
• input stud_id -- gpa
• put / _all_
• datalines
• 001234, Joe Smith,123 S 5th St,Columbia,MO,65201,3
  .0
• 003456, Mary Jones,909 Nifong, Jefferson
  City,MO,65103,3.5
• run

31
Running the Samples

• We have captured the sample code for the text
  (TLSB) and edited/extended it for local use.
• See the code in file s\sas8\Ch2_Samples.sas s
  \sas8\Ch3_Samples.sas etc.

32
The copyto Macro

• Utility macro used to copy the sample data to our
  local data directory, s\sas8\RawData
• Uses a single positional parameter and a single
  keyword parameter.
• Generates a simple SAS data step that reads data
  from datalines and writes a file in the RawData
  directory with name determined by the parameters.

33
Run the Samples - Ch 2

• Use the new enhanced editor window.
• Do a file-open and select the Ch2_Samples.sas
  program file.
• Note that all the steps which invoke copyto have
  already been run and the results are already out
  there. But it will not hurt if you rerun.
• You can edit the copyto macro and make your own
  personal copies which you can then play with.