topic Re: LIBREF with SAS generated name. in SAS Programming

LIBREF with SAS generated name.

data_null__ — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:36:56 GMT

I want to create a libref with a SAS generated named.  I can create a fileref with a SAS Generated name using a variable in the name field that is missing.  The function populates the name variable with a generated as #LN00013 see below.  It doesn't work that way for LIBREF in this program.  I know the libref is created I can see it with LIBNAME _ALL_ LIST; it is named WC000001. 

18         data _null_;
19            length dd $8; 
20            dd = ' ';;
21            rc = libname(dd,'~');
22            msg = sysmsg();
23            put _all_;
24            dd = ' '; 
25            rc = filename(dd,'~');
26            msg = sysmsg();
27            put _all_;
28         run;

dd=  rc=0 msg=  _ERROR_=0 _N_=1
dd=#LN00013 rc=0 msg=  _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

Re: LIBREF with SAS generated name.

PGStats — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:00:31 GMT

I get something different when I run your code on 9.3 Win 7 , 32 bits :

dd= rc=-70008 msg=NOTE: Library WC000001 does not exist. _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

dd=#LN00010 rc=0 msg= _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

Re: LIBREF with SAS generated name.

data_null__ — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:13:44 GMT

Did you use tilde ~? You need the proper path syntax for your OS. I am UNIX and ~ means "home".

Re: LIBREF with SAS generated name.

PGStats — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:47:54 GMT

Yeah. If I use a period (current dir in Windows), I match your output :

dd= rc=0 msg= _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

dd=#LN00010 rc=0 msg= _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

Looks like a case for Tech Support... But then, is name generation an official feature of SAS?

Re: LIBREF with SAS generated name.

data_null__ — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:59:35 GMT

It seem like is must be a feature because SAS does generate the name and define the libref, note RC=0. I just don't know how to get SAS to tell me what that name is.

But you may be right "we ain't s'pose to it that way".

Re: LIBREF with SAS generated name.

ballardw — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:48:13 GMT

The automatic macro variable &SYSLAST will have the library and dataset name of the last created dataset. Parse the string for the library

%let lastlib = %scan(&syslast,1,'.');

%put &lastlib;

Re: LIBREF with SAS generated name.

Tom — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 04:09:21 GMT

The code is just making librefs, not creating any datasets, so SYSLAST macro variable will not be updated.

Re: LIBREF with SAS generated name.

Tom — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 04:24:18 GMT

Seems to be how it works. Perhaps you can put it on the SAS ballot.

Meanwhile use FILENAME to generate the new name. You will need to modify it slightly to make it valid.

data _null_;

length fileref libref $8;

* Make FILEREF ;

fileref = ' ';;

rc = filename(fileref,'~');

msg = sysmsg();

put _all_;

* Generate LIBREF from FILEREF ;

libref='_'||substr(fileref,2);

* clear FILENAME ;

rc = filename(fileref,' ');

msg = sysmsg();

put _all_;

* Generate LIBNAME ;

rc = libname(libref,'~');

msg = sysmsg();

put _all_;

run;

fileref=#LN00023 libref= rc=0 msg= _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

fileref= libref=_LN00023 rc=0 msg= _ERROR_=0 _N_=1

Re: LIBREF with SAS generated name.

data_null__ — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:56:25 GMT

I thought about that but ended up just using &SYSINDEX.