Retain Statement Data Spread over multiple lines SAS -

im having trouble dataset. there free form character variable spread on multiple lines. want put variable new variables each observation on own line

heres example dataset

data have;    input ob_ref $ chardata $ linenum 3.;    datalines; 321a    myname  1 321a    john    2 431a    myname  1 431a    notjohn 2 431a    itsfred 3 511a    geoff   1 754a    cam 1 ; 

there ob_ref each observation , have linenum variable indicating how many lines observations data spread over. need new dataset 1 observation per line , character variable spread on multiple variables. maximum linenum 56

any appreciated

i think you're looking this? create array of character variables, use linenum variable assign values correct character variables. output on last row given ob_ref.

data want(keep=ob_ref char1-char56);   array _c $ char1-char56;   until (last.ob_ref or eof);     set have end=eof;     ob_ref;     _c(linenum)=chardata;   end;   output; run;