PROC IMPORT, the Import Wizard, and EFI do not import all the columns on a row if one of the columns on the row contains a missing value and is represented by 2 double quotation marks (""). Missing values represented by double quotation mark, space, and then a double quotation mark (" ") will be read in correctly, and all columns are read in.

To circumvent the problem, you can use a DATA step with INFILE and INPUT statements to read the external file. Another option is to pre-process the external file and change all the "" (2 double quotation marks) to a " " (double quotation mark, space, double quotation mark) before using PROC IMPORT, the Import Wizard or EFI to read the external file. This issue will be addressed in a future release of SAS.

Operating System and Release Information

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.3_M2 is available at:

A fix for this issue for Base SAS 9.3_M1 is available at: