topic Re: Files in SAS Programming

Files

deleted_user — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:08:35 GMT

Hi, Can any one post me the code on how to find out wheather an external file exists or not if yes then the code should open the file automatically i have tried it using FEXIST but its not opening my file

Re: Files

deleted_user — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:36:04 GMT

hi,

use fExist to check external file and if exists, use wBrowse command

e.g.:

dm "wbrowse 'c:\temp\aaaa.xls'";

M.

Re: Files

deleted_user — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:49:07 GMT

What are you trying to do?
Why do you think you need to use fexist?
What do you think you mean by opening a file?
Why do you want to manually manage this yourself?
Have you actually read the SAS documentation for fexist?

Re: Files

deleted_user — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:01:56 GMT

> hi,
>
> use fExist to check external file and if exists, use
> wBrowse command
>
> e.g.:
>
> dm "wbrowse 'c:\temp\aaaa.xls'";
>
> M.

This is not necessarily the best way.
FEXIST check's for the existence of an "external" file through a FILEREF. FILEEXIST checks for the existence of an external file, given the file's or directory's (folder's) name. To get a fileref, you have to have assigned the reference first, using a FILENAME statement or a FILENAME function. It would be more appropriate to use FILEEXIST before ever attempting to use FILENAME.

The FILE statement "opens" a file in a datastep.
FOPEN also opens a file, but why would you want to use this?