topic Re: Import the txt file from web using "http://" in SAS Programming

Import the txt file from web using "http://"

SASdevAnneMarie — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 16:48:27 GMT

Hello Experts,

Do you know please how to import the file from web. I'm using the code like :

data scores;
   infile "http://XXXX/Liste.txt" truncover;
   format name $8.;
   informat name $8.;
   input name ;
 run;

But it doesn't work.

Thank you very much for your help !

Re: Import the txt file from web using "http://"

PhilC — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 17:16:59 GMT

SAS Help Center: FILENAME Statement: URL Access Method

Re: Import the txt file from web using "http://"

ballardw — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 17:33:59 GMT

Doesn't work is awful vague.

Are there errors in the log?: Post the code and log in a code box opened with the "</>" to maintain formatting of error messages.

No output? Post any log in a code box.

Unexpected output? Provide input data in the form of data step code pasted into a code box, the actual results and the expected results. Instructions here: https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Communities-Library/How-to-create-a-data-step-version-of-your-data-AKA-generate/ta-p/258712 will show how to turn an existing SAS data set into data step code that can be pasted into a forum code box using the "</>" icon or attached as text to show exactly what you have and that we can test code against.

Re: Import the txt file from web using "http://"

SASdevAnneMarie — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 18:16:14 GMT

Thank you !
My problem is that this file doesn't existe until clicking on http://XXXXXX. In web, there is the request (the client's request -> server) and the response (server -> client's browser). The response from http://XXXXXX is a file stream type txt (generated with php).
I'm wondering if there is possible to import this kind of file.

Re: Import the txt file from web using "http://"

SASdevAnneMarie — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 18:15:47 GMT

Thank you !
I have an error that there is no file. My problem is that this file doesn't existe until clicking on http://XXXXXX. In web, there is the request (the client's request -> server) and the response (server -> client's browser). The response from http://XXXXXX is a file stream type txt (generated with php).
I'm wondering if there is possible to import this kind of file.

Re: Import the txt file from web using "http://"

ballardw — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 19:32:47 GMT

Perhaps Proc HTTP can help.

https://documentation.sas.com/?cdcId=pgmsascdc&cdcVersion=9.4_3.5&docsetId=proc&docsetTarget=n0t7v16eitluu2n15ffpfeafqszs.htm&locale=en

You can provide instructions like "GET" to request data but I don't use this and there are likely to be a number of additional pieces of information that you may need to provide to get the correct connection.

Re: Import the txt file from web using "http://"

Tom — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 20:23:03 GMT

You need to use the URL filename engine. Otherwise is just going to look for a file on the local computer with that name.

infile "http://XXXX/Liste.txt" url truncover;

Re: Import the txt file from web using "http://"

SASdevAnneMarie — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 21:03:35 GMT

Thank you Tom ! The file is generated by php only if I request it with http://XXXXXX, so it's "instantly generated txt file". I don't know If I can use the proc http with that.

Re: Import the txt file from web using "http://"

Tom — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:03:24 GMT

@SASdevAnneMarie wrote:
Thank you Tom ! The file is generated by php only if I request it with http://XXXXXX, so it's "instantly generated txt file". I don't know If I can use the proc http with that.

It is not 1992 anymore. Most of the url's on the web are not pointing at actual files. So try it and see.