DATALINES4 Statement

Specifies that the lines of data that follow the statement contain internal semicolons.

Valid in:	DATA step
Category:	File-Handling
Type:	Declarative
Alias:	CARDS4, LINES4
Restriction:	This statement is not supported in a DATA step that runs in CAS.

Table of Contents

Syntax

DATALINES4;

Without Arguments

Use the DATALINES4 statement with an INPUT statement to read data that contains semicolons that you enter directly in the program.

Details

The DATALINES4 statement is the last statement in the DATA step and immediately precedes the first data line. Follow the data lines with four consecutive semicolons that are located in columns 1 through 4.

Comparisons

Use the DATALINES4 statement when your data contains semicolons. If your data does not contain semicolons, use the DATALINES statement.

Example: Reading Data Lines That Contain Semicolons

In this example, SAS reads data lines that contain internal semicolons until it encounters a line of four semicolons. Execution continues with the rest of the program.

data biblio;
   input number citation $50.;
   datalines4;
  KIRK, 1988
2  LIN ET AL., 1995; BRADY, 1993
3  BERG, 1990; ROA, 1994; WILLIAMS, 1992
;;;;