topic Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset? in SAS Programming

How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

sfmeier — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 09:29:13 GMT

How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

Thx,

Stefan

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

Amir — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:12:15 GMT

Hi,

Something similar was discussed in:

https://communities.sas.com/message/125021#125021

You can replace the put statement with an output statement or just use a sub-setting if statement.

Regards,

Amir.

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

Haikuo — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 11:45:57 GMT

Hi,

Since you mentioned 'library' instead of a folder/directory, I would assume you are trying to put data set names into a data set, and then there is a simple way: say you want every table names within 'work':

proc sql;

create table want as

select distinct memname as dname from dictionary.columns where libname='WORK';

QUIT;

Haikuo

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

sfmeier — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:08:22 GMT

Hikuo!

I am getting an empty result 😞

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

Haikuo — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:12:31 GMT

Please post your code. Make sure your libname need to be CAPITAL. for instance, libname='work' will NOT work, it has to be libname='WORK'.

Haikuo

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

art297 — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:17:15 GMT

Haikuo's code should have worked. What code did you submit and, if it was Haikuo's code literally, did you have any files in the WORK library?

If you changed the name of the libname, did you type the desired libname in all caps?

You also could have used dictionary.tables, but would get the same result. e.g.:

proc sql;

create table want as

select memname

from dictionary.tables

where libname='WORK'

;

QUIT;

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

sfmeier — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:17:20 GMT

I did not use CAPS.. that might be the reason. I figured out a different way now though... thx!

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

Haikuo — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:19:23 GMT

"I figured out a different way now though",

Care sharing with the forum?

Thanks,

Haikuo

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

sfmeier — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:42:48 GMT

Sure! I added another filter.. and this code might be slightly slower 😉

*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| Daten aus dem Verzeichnis lls_wrk auslesen |

*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------;

proc contents directory data=lls_wrk._all_ out=temp short;

run;

*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

| relevante Tabellennamen filtern |

*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------;

proc sql;

create table lls_wrk as

select distinct memname

from temp

where substr(memname, 1, 2) = "P_";

quit;

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

Linlin — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:04:36 GMT

you could add the filter to Art's code:

proc sql;

create table want as

select memname

from dictionary.tables

where libname='WORK' and substr(memname, 1, 2) = "P_";

quit;

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

LarryWorley — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:36:52 GMT

Based on your example code (appears you are referencing library referenced by LLS_WRK), you would need one additional change to Linlin's modification of Art's code to make work:

proc sql;

create table want as

select memname

from dictionary.tables

where libname= "LLS_WRK" and substr(memname, 1, 2) = "P_";

quit;

Your example works just as well at the usage of dictionary.tables for your case. but using dictionary views can be more powerful for other things.

Re: How can I read the filenames from a library into a dataset?

Peter_C — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 22:12:04 GMT

i'm recommending proc sql with sashelp.vmember rather than proc contents, dictionary.columns or dictionary.tables because it performs much better with non-standard libraries