topic Re: Filename - based on date file was created in SAS Programming

Filename - based on date file was created

TMiles — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:32:52 GMT

I'm trying to automate a program that reads in EXCEL files. Currently I have to browse to the Windows directory to see what files have been added, then I copy/paste into my program.

I want to scan the Windows Folder and find the files with yesterdays date dynamically to create my filename statement.

Is that possible?

Thanks,

Tammy

Re: Filename - based on date file was created

LinusH — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:38:42 GMT

Yes, there are multiple ways to do it.

You could either use SAS external file functions to find out directory contents, files and their creation dates (FINFO).

Or, have an OS script prepare that information for you, import it to SAS, and use macro coding to generate FILEAME based on that.

Re: Filename - based on date file was created

SuryaKiran — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:06:56 GMT

Hi,

You can run x-commands to read all the files in a folder. Does your excel files have datestamp on files names? If yes and you don't have access to run x-commands then the following code can read the files in a specific folder.

FILENAME _folder_ "%bquote(C:\Program Files\test)";
data filenames(keep=memname);
  handle=dopen( '_folder_' );
  if handle > 0 then do;
    count=dnum(handle);
    do i=1 to count;
      memname=dread(handle,i);
      output filenames;
    end;
  end;
  rc=dclose(handle);
run;
filename _folder_ clear;

Re: Filename - based on date file was created

TMiles — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 16:07:19 GMT

This works great -what is the command to find the file create date so I only get the files I need each day? Or if you can point me to documentation I would be most grateful.

Thank you