Starting with Raw Data: The Basics

Examine the Structure of the Raw Data: Factors to Consider

Before you can select the appropriate style of input, examine the structure of the raw data that you want to read. Consider some of the following factors:

how the data is arranged in the input records (For example, are data fields aligned in columns or unaligned? Are they separated by blanks or by other characters?)
whether character values contain embedded blanks
whether numeric values contain non-numeric characters such as commas
whether the data contains time or date values
whether each input record contains data for more than one observation
whether data for a single observation is spread over multiple input records

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