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.
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.