Can you use the WHERE statement when reading raw data in SAS?

The misunderstanding arises from the role of the WHERE statement in SAS. When reading raw data, the WHERE statement is not applicable because it is typically used to filter observations from data sets that have already been created, such as those generated from a DATA step or existing SAS datasets.

When you read raw data using an INPUT statement within a DATA step, the process focuses on creating a new SAS dataset and does not allow for conditional filtering at that stage. The WHERE statement is only effective on SAS datasets post-creation, meaning that you cannot filter records from the raw data input itself.

Therefore, the conclusion that the WHERE statement is not allowed when reading raw data aligns with how data input processes work in SAS. Options that imply conditional filtering during raw data input or suggest specific use cases, like the missover statement, do not reflect the fundamental limitations regarding the WHERE statement in that context.