What does the DLM option do in SAS?

The DLM option in SAS is used to specify delimiters for the INFILE statement when reading data from an external file. This option allows you to define how fields in the data file are separated, such as by commas, spaces, tabs, or other custom characters.

When using the INFILE statement in a DATA step, the DLM option helps SAS understand the structure of the input data. For instance, if a data file has values separated by commas, you would indicate this using the DLM option to ensure that SAS correctly parses each individual data value into its respective variable.

By specifying the correct delimiters, you enable SAS to accurately read and format the incoming data, leading to successful data processing and analysis. This is particularly useful when dealing with various data formats or when importing data from different sources.

The other options address different functionalities within SAS, such as controlling formats for variables or defining file types, but they do not pertain specifically to how data fields are separated in external files.