For example, you could use both the / line pointer control and the #n line pointer control to read the variables in the raw data file Patdata in the following order:

1. ID 2. Fname 3. Lname 4. Address

5. City 6. State 7. Zip 8. Doctor

data perm.patients; infile patdata; input #4 ID $5. #1 Fname $ Lname $ / Address $23. / City $ State $ Zip $ / @7 Doctor $6.; run;

1---+----10---+----20--- ALEX BEDWAN  609 WILTON MEADOW DRIVE  GARNER NC 27529  XM034 FLOYD  ALISON BEYER  8521 HOLLY SPRINGS ROAD  APEX NC 27502  XF124 LAWSON

To read the values for ID in the fourth record, specify #4 before naming the variable and defining its attributes. Specify #1 to move the input pointer back to the first record to read the values for Fname and Lname. Because the next record to be read is sequential, you can use the / line pointer control after the variable Lname to move the input pointer to the second record, where the value for Address is read. The / line pointer control in the next line directs the input pointer to the third record, where the values for City, State and Zip are read. The final / line pointer control moves the input pointer back to the fourth record where the value for Doctor is read.

You can also use just the #n line pointer control (as shown earlier in this lesson and below) to read the variables in the order shown above.

data perm.patients; infile patdata; input #4 ID $5. #1 Fname $ Lname $ #2 Address $23. #3 City $ State $ Zip $ #4 @7 Doctor $6.; run;

1---+----10---+----20--- ALEX BEDWAN  609 WILTON MEADOW DRIVE  GARNER NC 27529  XM034 FLOYD  ALISON BEYER  8521 HOLLY SPRINGS ROAD  APEX NC 27502  XF124 LAWSON