topic Re: Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats) in New SAS User

Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats)

Eric_Beckerrr — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 22:51:32 GMT

Disclaimer: I did not go to school for data science, computer science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and/or software engineering...

Greetings SAS Community,

I have downloaded datasets from the National Data Archive of Child Abuse & Neglect (NDACAN), as well as from Data.gov and Children's Bureau of An Office of the Administration for Children & Families.

1st - I am trying to upload the NDACAN dataset into SAS Viya Workbench Visual Studio Code. But ran into problems, obviously. The dataset is in my external hard drive.

File types: SAS, SPSS. DTA, SAV, DAT, BDAT, XPT, POR, SAS7BDAT, SAS7BCAT, DO, TAB, TRN, SPS.

2nd - I am trying to upload these external datasets into SAS in order to create historical volatility index limits for the BioFam Services startup I am trying to secure funding for [ https://linktr.ee/BioFamServices ]

*** Yes, I have tried to use various online sources (typed words and video tutorials) but to no avail...

*** Since I am new to SAS, I am having difficulties locating the various tools, options, etc. suggested in the online resources.

Re: Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats)

Tom — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 01:21:54 GMT

Most of those sources should have regular SAS code for converting the files you downloaded into a SAS dataset. (Note that you can run normal SAS code in a VIYA installation).

Once you have the files as SAS datasets then you should be able to load them into CAS libraries so you can use VIYA on them.

Re: Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats)

Quentin — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:12:18 GMT

There is a community specific to Workbench. You might try posting the question there as well:
https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Viya-Workbench-Discussion/bd-p/viya-workbench-discussion

You should describe what IDE you are using (VS Code?) and also describe how you tried to upload the file to workbench, and what went wrong. Also include any error messages.

This YT video from SAS shows file upload at 4:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkjmQMXfpJU

Re: Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats)

Eric_Beckerrr — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:04:57 GMT

Yes, I am using VS Code.

And wow, after watching the video, you just made me feel so stupid (humorously said LOL). Thank you!

Re: Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats)

Eric_Beckerrr — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:08:38 GMT

One of the datasets couldn't load due to this error:

"...The file is not displayed in the text editor because it is either binary or uses an unsupported text encoding...."

Re: Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats)

Eric_Beckerrr — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:10:56 GMT

Another dataset couldn't open due to the following:

"...The file is not displayed in the text editor because it is very large (231.47MB)...."

Re: Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats)

Eric_Beckerrr — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:13:44 GMT

A third dataset said the same:

"...The file is not displayed in the text editor because it is very large (285.82MB)..."

Re: Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats)

Tom — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:26:55 GMT

@Eric_Beckerrr wrote:

A third dataset said the same:

"...The file is not displayed in the text editor because it is very large (285.82MB)..."

Why would you try to view a dataset in a text editor?

Run some code to look at the files.

This simple SAS data step will dump the first 500 bytes of a file to the SAS log so you get an idea if the file is text or binary.

data _null_;
  infile 'the name of my file' lrecl=100 recfm=f obs=5;
  input;
  list;
run;

Re: Uploading External Datasets (With Different File Formats)

Eric_Beckerrr — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 17:14:57 GMT

Why? Because I do not have the experience needed to know the difference. I'm LBD'ing (learning by doing).