Fixed-Format Data (DATA LIST command)

  • The order of the variables in the active dataset dictionary is the order in which they are defined on DATA LIST, not their sequence in the input data file. This order is important if you later use the TO keyword to refer to variables on subsequent commands.
  • In numeric format, blanks to the left or right of a number are ignored; embedded blanks are invalid. When the program encounters a field that contains one or more blanks interspersed among the numbers, it issues a warning message and assigns the system-missing value to that case.
  • Alphabetical and special characters, except the decimal point and leading plus and minus signs, are not valid in numeric variables and are set to system-missing if encountered in the data.
  • See String Formats (DATA LIST command) for information on column width specifications for string variables in UTF-8 data files.
  • The system-missing value is assigned to a completely blank field for numeric variables. The value assigned to blanks can be changed using the BLANKS specification on the SET command.
  • The program ignores data contained in columns and records that are not specified in the variable definition.