The DIF procedure converts
data interchange format (DIF) files to SAS data sets. The data sets
are compatible with the current release of SAS software, or SAS data
sets convert to DIF files.
PROC DIF produces one
output file but no printed output. The output file contains the same
information as the input file but in a different format.
Software Arts, Inc.
developed the data interchange format to be used as a common language
for data. Originally, DIF was made popular by products such as Lotus
1-2-3 and VisiCalc. Although DIF is not as popular today, it is still
supported by many software products.
Note: Any DIF file that you plan
to import to a SAS data set should be in a tabular format. All items
in a given column should represent the
same type
of data. If the DIF file contains inconsistent data, such as a row
of underscores, hyphens, or blanks, delete these rows before converting
the file. It is recommended that you make a backup copy of your DIF
table before you make these modifications.
When you are converting
a DIF file, each row of the file becomes an observation in the SAS
data set. Conversely, when you are converting a SAS data set, each
SAS observation becomes a row in the DIF file.
To use the DIF procedure,
you must have a
SAS/ACCESS Interface to PC Files license.