topic Re: Excel attachment to SAS email removed in ODS and Base Reporting

Excel attachment to SAS email removed

kdjamboe — Thu, 04 May 2017 12:40:16 GMT

Hello,

We are running a SAS grid on RHEL 6.8. We tried to send email with excel file attachment in code and it was removed when it got to recipient. We are able to send CSV, pdf and .zip attachments and they go through. Any idea on why exccel file is removed? Thanks

Re: Excel attachment to SAS email removed

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 04 May 2017 12:52:35 GMT

Most likely a mail router removed the attachment for security reasons. xls files are major conduits for malware. Stay with text-based formats when transmitting data.

If you want to supply formatted reports in spreadsheets, create XML (and use the proper .xml filename extension!) files with ODS TAGSETS.EXCELXP.

Re: Excel attachment to SAS email removed

RW9 — Thu, 04 May 2017 13:10:08 GMT

I would also add to @Kurt_Bremser, that email is not a good method of data transfer in any circumstance. You will hit all kinds of limitations, file size, file type etc. I would always recommend either a web portal with access for only those who need it, or an ftp server for actual data transfers.

Re: Excel attachment to SAS email removed

ballardw — Thu, 04 May 2017 14:13:53 GMT

An additional $0.02

If the file was intended as a report then a different file format, even though some management seems to insist on Excel, such as PDF may be more appropriate. I have found that users occasionally "accidentally" enter stuff into Excel changing the results I provide especially when they use the provided results to "build charts".