Overview (BEGIN DATA-END DATA command)

BEGIN DATA and END DATA are used when data are entered within the command sequence (inline data). BEGIN DATA and END DATA are also used for inline matrix data. BEGIN DATA signals the beginning of data lines and END DATA signals the end of data lines.

Basic Specification

The basic specification is BEGIN DATA, the data lines, and END DATA. BEGIN DATA must be specified by itself on the line that immediately precedes the first data line. END DATA is specified by itself on the line that immediately follows the last data line.

Syntax Rules

  • BEGIN DATA, the data, and END DATA must precede the first procedure.
  • The command terminator after BEGIN DATA is optional. It is best to leave it out so that the program will treat inline data as one continuous specification.
  • END DATA must always begin in column 1. It must be spelled out in full and can have only one space between the words END and DATA. Procedures and additional transformations can follow the END DATA command.
  • Data lines must not have a command terminator. For inline data formats, see DATA LIST.
  • Inline data records are limited to a maximum of 1024 bytes. (On some systems, the maximum may be fewer than 1024 bytes.) If data records exceed 1024 bytes, they must be stored in an external file that is specified on the FILE subcommand of the DATA LIST (or similar) command.

Operations

  • When the program encounters BEGIN DATA, it begins to read and process data on the next input line. All preceding transformation commands are processed as the working file is built.
  • The program continues to evaluate input lines as data until it encounters END DATA, at which point it begins evaluating input lines as commands.
  • No other commands are recognized between BEGIN DATA and END DATA.
  • The INCLUDE command can specify a file that contains BEGIN DATA, data lines, and END DATA . The data in such a file are treated as inline data. Thus, the FILE subcommand should be omitted from the DATA LIST (or similar) command.
  • When running the program from prompts, the prompt DATA> appears immediately after BEGIN DATA is specified. After END DATA is specified, the command line prompt returns.