Chapter 27: The IMPORT Procedure

Overview: IMPORT Procedure

The IMPORT procedure reads data from an external data source and writes it to a SAS data set. External data sources can include Microsoft Access Database, Excel files, Lotus spreadsheets, and delimited external files (in which columns of data values are separated by a delimiter such as a blank, comma, or tab).

When you execute PROC IMPORT, the procedure reads the input file and writes the data to a SAS data set. The SAS variable definitions are based on the input records. PROC IMPORT imports the data by one of the following methods :

• generated DATA step code

• generated SAS/ACCESS code

• translation engines.

You control the results with statements and options that are specific to the input data source. PROC IMPORT generates the specified output SAS data set and writes information regarding the import to the SAS log. In the log, you see the DATA step or the SAS/ACCESS code that is generated by PROC IMPORT. If a translation engine is used, then no code is submitted.

Note: To import data, you can also use the Import Wizard, which is a windowing tool that guides you through the steps to import an external data source. You can request the Import Wizard to generate IMPORT procedure statements, which you can save to a file for subsequent use. To invoke the Import Wizard, from the SAS windowing environment select File – Import Data