Syntax of FORMATTED input
If you want the most control, use formatted input.

Input statement (formatted input style) INPUT [pointer-control] variable-name [$] [informat.] ... [pointer-control] variable-name [$] [informat.];

That is, instead of using the starting and ending columns for a field, you can use pointer control to position the beginning of the input process and then use SAS informats to specify how the field is to be read.
Notes
· Length of fields are specified by an informat
· Pointer controls may be used to position the pointer
· Data may be read which is stored in a nonstandard format (e.g., embedded commas)
Has all the features of column input