### 9.5 IMPORT

         IMPORT
                 /FILE='file_name'
                 /TYPE={COMM,TAPE}
                 /DROP=var_list
                 /KEEP=var_list
                 /RENAME=(src_names=target_names)...

The `IMPORT` transformation clears the active dataset dictionary and data and replaces them with a dictionary and data from a system file or portable file.

The `FILE` subcommand, which is the only required subcommand, specifies the portable file to be read as a file name string or a file handle (see File Handles).

The `TYPE` subcommand is currently not used.

`DROP`, `KEEP`, and `RENAME` follow the syntax used by `GET` (see GET).

`IMPORT` does not cause the data to be read; only the dictionary. The data is read later, when a procedure is executed.

Use of `IMPORT` to read a system file is a pspp extension.