SAS Component Language Dictionary

IMPORT

Creates a SAS table from an external file

Category:

SAS Table

Syntax
Details
The IMPORT Window
IMPORT Window Command Menu
The DEFINE Window
Examples

Syntax

name=IMPORT(table-name,file<,'DEFINE'>);

name

contains the name of the last SAS table that was created.

Type: Character

table-name

is the new SAS table to create. If the table already exists, a warning message is displayed when the IMPORT window opens.

Type: Character

file

is the fileref or physical filename of the external file from which data are to be imported. A physical filename must be enclosed in quotation marks. (See the example.)

Type: Character

'DEFINE'

specifies to open the DEFINE window before opening the IMPORT window.

Type: Character

Details

CAUTION:: Blank lines in files can cause problems.
Under some host operating systems, blank lines in an external file may adversely affect the ability of the IMPORT function to extract data from the file.

The IMPORT function returns the name of the last SAS table that it created from an external data file. This function enables users to easily import raw data from an external file into a SAS table.

Two auxiliary windows are associated with IMPORT: the IMPORT window and the DEFINE window.

The IMPORT Window

The IMPORT window, which defines the columns for the SAS table, is the primary window for the IMPORT function. The first two lines of the external file are displayed below a ruler in order to help the application user identify the variables for the columns.

If numbers for start and end columns are not supplied, then list input is used, and items in the file must be separated by at least one blank. Users can use the following fields in the IMPORT window to specify information about the table columns:

Name: specifies the name for the table column. This can be any valid SAS name that is up to 32 characters long.
Start/End Column: specify the starting and ending columns of the value in the external file. These fields are optional. You can specify a starting column without specifying an ending column but not vice versa. If you omit the ending column, it is calculated to be one less than the next starting column.
Type: specifies the data type of the table column. Choose the type by pressing ENTER or clicking with the mouse on the appropriate type.
Format: specifies a SAS format. Enter a '?' to display a list of some common formats. This field is optional.
Informat: specifies a SAS informat. Enter a '?' to display a list of some common informats. This field is optional.
Label: specifies a label for the table column. The label can be up to eight characters long. This field is optional.

IMPORT Window Command Menu

The File menu enables you to perform save operations, to import data with the Import Wizard, to export data using the Export Wizard, to perform print operations, to send mail, and to close the window.

The Edit menu enables you to copy marked text, to select or deselect marked text, to set the horizontal and vertical scroll amounts, to perform find operations, and to set the keyfield (the field to search with the next Find command).

The View menu enables you to scroll right and left, to specify the sort order for fields in the window, to display the first record in hexadecimal representation, and to open other SAS windows.

The Tools menu enables you to specify conditions for querying values in the file, to open a Viewtable window, and to run a session of graphics editors, the Report Editor or Text Editor. You can also set a variety of options.

The Data menu enables you to create a SAS table from contents of the external file, to test read the file, to define fields with the Define window, to specify a different external file for input, to specify a new name for the SAS table to create, to display the length of the longest record that has been read, to view the external file, and to edit or browse the data set that was created from the external file.

The DEFINE Window

The DEFINE window is displayed when you use the DEFINE option with the IMPORT function or when you select Data Define fields from the IMPORT window. It displays the first line from the external file, along with a ruler and delimiter lines. On the delimiter lines, you can use < and > to mark the beginning and end of a column, respectively. If the column is only one character wide, use a vertical bar (|).

In order to use the DEFINE window, you must align the data values in columns in the data records.

When you issue the END command to exit from this window, the fields are given default column names and types (numeric or character). The IMPORT window then opens so that you can change the column names and optionally add formats and informats.

Examples

Create a new SAS table named MYLIB.NEW using data in the file to which the fileref EXTERN has previously been assigned:
```
name=import('mylib.new','extern');
```
Create a new SAS table named MYLIB.NEW using data in the file with the physical name SAMPLE1.DATA. The name of the file is enclosed in quotation marks to indicate that a physical filename, not a fileref, is being passed to the IMPORT function.
```
name=import('mylib.new',"'sample1.data'");
```
Note: The form of the physical filename depends on the host operating system.

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