topic Re: Filename should be same as specified date in New SAS User

Filename should be same as specified date

Kirito1 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:22:16 GMT

First I was trying to give the filename the exact date on which I exported the file.

proc export data=AVG
outfile="xyz/Transactions \%sysfunc( today(), date9 ).csv"
REPLACE
DBMS=CSV;
run;

This is giving me an output filename as (Transactions 22DEC2022).

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But now I want the date which I specify in a code should be attached with the File name.

For Example: I specified a date in code as 19DEC2022 and the file name is Transactions. So, the output filename should be Transactions 19DEC2022.

I think this problem could be solved using macros but I am not sure how to proceed it. Please! help.

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:32:02 GMT

From longtime IT experience, two tips:

do not use DMY dates in filenames. Use YMD instead, so the files sort in chronological order on their own, and it is easiervto use wildcards to pick years or months.
avoid blanks in filenames. Use underlines instead.

How do you "specify a date in a code"? Please show that particular piece of code.

Use the "little running man" button to open a window into which you paste the code. This keeps formatting, leaves the code as is (no HTML formatting), and provides coloring similar to the SAS Enhanced Editor.

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kirito1 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:36:36 GMT

That's the question how can I just name a file using the date I specify. Sorry I think this is a bit confusing but is there a way where we %let to specify date and then just like called today(), I could call a date that I want with the file name to attach.

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:47:23 GMT

To store today's date in a macro variable, do

%let today = %sysfunc(today(),yymmddn8.);

If you want to use the date in code (for calculations or comparisons), omit the format in %SYSFUNC.

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kirito1 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:59:29 GMT

But, what if I want to store yesterday's date. Then how can do that?

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 06:09:03 GMT

SAS dates are counts of days, starting with 1960-01-01 as day zero.

So you only need to subtract a day from today:

%let yesterday = %sysfunc(putn(%sysfunc(today())-1,yymmddn8.));

Or you use a DATA step:

data _null_;
call symputx("yesterday",put(today()-1,yymmddn8.));
run;

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kirito1 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 06:18:04 GMT

Sorry to bug you so much, but what will we do if we want to store a date as crazy as 1999-10-24 with the file name while exporting it.

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 06:21:23 GMT

From where do you get the date? Is it calculated in code, read from a dataset, or supplied in another way to your code?

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kirito1 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 06:26:11 GMT

proc import datafile='xyz/IMPORT/TXN_DATA.csv'
out=CUSTAVG
DBMS=CSV
REPLACE;
run;
/*Defining yesterday as a function*/
%let yesterday = %sysfunc(putn(%sysfunc(today())-1,yymmddn8.));
/*Exporting a file*/
proc export data=CUSTAVG
outfile="xyz/Transactions \%sysfunc( yesterday(), date9 ).csv"
REPLACE
DBMS=CSV;
run;

Today() was working but if I use yesterday even after defining a macro Its giving me error.
Below Code was working fine and giving me desired results.
proc export data=AVG
outfile="xyz/Transactions \%sysfunc( today(), date9 ).csv"
REPLACE
DBMS=CSV;
run;

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kirito1 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 06:30:45 GMT

Supplied in another way, For example I am working on a task that was supposed to be submitted on so and so date but I am doing it today and want I want that the file name should consist the date when the file was supposed to be worked on.
Like I export a file with today() it will save file on my system with today's date but I want that file to be saved as 16-09-2022. Then I how could I do that.

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 06:39:02 GMT

yesterday is a macro variable, not a data step function.

outfile="xyz/Transactions \&yesterday..csv"

Re: Filename should be same as specified date

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 06:57:15 GMT

Either you have a way to automatically calculate the date, or you need to write it literally into the code anyway.

I have already shown how to store a calculated date into a macro variable.