topic Re: Need code to delete multiple files from filepaths in New SAS User

Need code to delete multiple files from filepaths

Kiy — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 10:09:15 GMT

Basically as it says in the title, I have an excel list of files which can be deleted and the filepath is given. How can I delete all of these filepaths in one piece of code?

Re: Need code to delete multiple files from filepaths

PeterClemmensen — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 10:27:43 GMT

What kind of files? Can you show us the Excel sheet?

Re: Need code to delete multiple files from filepaths

BrunoMueller — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 12:06:59 GMT

Have a look here:

https://communities.sas.com/t5/General-SAS-Programming/dynamically-deleting-external-files/td-p/263387

You will use the FILENAME and FDELETE functions to do what you want

Re: Need code to delete multiple files from filepaths

Kiy — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 15:26:41 GMT

They are other sas datasets stored within the Same SAS server

Re: Need code to delete multiple files from filepaths

Kiy — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 15:29:12 GMT

The files are internal within the same SAS server and as a beginner on SAS I am a little confused on where I should fill in the filepaths.

Re: Need code to delete multiple files from filepaths

BrunoMueller — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 20:40:40 GMT

What does the list of files to delete look like?

Find below a sample program that shows how to use the FILENAME and FDELETE functions. This should help you understand how to use them. Additionally you have to read the documentation of does function as well.

*
* file we want to delete
*;
%let myfile = c:\temp\sugus.dat;

%put NOTE: does &myfile exists %sysfunc(fileexist(&myfile)) (1=true 0=false) ;

*
* create file for delete testing
*;
data _null_;
  file "&myfile";
  put "hello world";
run;

%put NOTE: does &myfile exists %sysfunc(fileexist(&myfile)) (1=true 0=false) ;

*
* delete file using FDELETE function, needs a fileref
*;
data _null_;
  rc_assign_fileref = filename("_fd", "&myfile");
  rc_fdelete = fdelete("_fd");
  rc_deassign_fileref = filename("_fd");
  putlog _all_;
run;

%put NOTE: does &myfile exists %sysfunc(fileexist(&myfile)) (1=true 0=false) ;

Re: Need code to delete multiple files from filepaths

andreas_lds — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 09:21:19 GMT

Import the Excel-file.
Use a data-step to process the imported data using the already suggested fdelete function.

The documentation contains an example explaining how to use fdelete.