topic Re: SET data set if exists in SAS Programming

SET data set if exists

Ronein — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 11:08:06 GMT

Hello,

I want to create a new data set using set statement.

IF the data set dosn't exit then I want that nothing will be done(data set will not created) and there will not be an error.

The error is

NOTE: Line generated by the invoked macro "IF_EXIST_OLD".
31          r_r.Panel
            ____________________________
            557
ERROR: DATA STEP Component Object failure.  Aborted during the COMPILATION phase.
ERROR 557-185: Variable r_r is not an object.


%macro if_exist_old;
%if %sysfunc(exist(r_r.Panel)) %then r_r.Panel;
%mend;
Data r_r.Backup;
%if_exist_old;
Run;

Re: SET data set if exists

PaigeMiller — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 18:49:32 GMT

You don't have a SET statement in your code.

This is why we advise people to create working SAS code without macros before you try to write a macro. In this case, you need working SAS code for the case where the data set exists, and also working code for the case where the data set doesn't exist. If you had this, you would have a much better chance of achieving your goal of creating code for these situations.

Re: SET data set if exists

Kurt_Bremser — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 16:33:41 GMT

You can do it without a macro nowadays:

data r_r.backup;
set
%if %sysfunc(exist(r_r.panel))
%then %do;
  r_r.panel
%end;
;
run;

Re: SET data set if exists

PaigeMiller — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 17:14:53 GMT

@Kurt_Bremser wrote:

You can do it without a macro nowadays:
data r_r.backup;
set
%if %sysfunc(exist(r_r.panel))
%then %do;
  r_r.panel
%end;
;
run;

I don't believe that the OP has SAS 9.4 TS1M5 which I think is required for this to work.

Re: SET data set if exists

Reeza — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 01:24:06 GMT

That will technically create an empty data set.

Re: SET data set if exists

Reeza — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 01:25:06 GMT

Modify this example to do your SET instead of PRINT.
https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.5/mcrolref/p011imau3tm4jen1us2a45cyenz9.htm

Re: SET data set if exists

andreas_lds — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 05:35:20 GMT

I am sure you can adept the solution provided provided in your older thread: https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Programming/SET-data-sets-IF-exits/m-p/754937#M238173

Re: SET data set if exists

Ronein — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 05:55:52 GMT

Hello,

The target is :

IF data set ABC exist then create a new data set called wanted (using SET statement).

IF data set ABC doesnt exist then do nothing! (No create empty data set).

I run this code and get a strange results.

Data set ABC doesn't exist but I get a data set wanted with following columns

%macro if_exist_old;
%if %sysfunc(exist(ABC)) %then ABC;
%mend;
Data wanted;
SET
%if_exist_old;
Run;

Re: SET data set if exists

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 06:29:19 GMT

You need to enclose the whole data step in the macro %IF %THEN %DO - %END block.

Re: SET data set if exists

Ronein — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 06:40:19 GMT

Sorry I didn't understand the problem, may you please show the code

Re: SET data set if exists

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 06:45:10 GMT

You already made such code yourself in your other thread (way 1).

Re: SET data set if exists

Patrick — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 06:46:30 GMT

@Kurt_Bremser wrote:

You can do it without a macro nowadays:
data r_r.backup;
set
%if %sysfunc(exist(r_r.panel))
%then %do;
  r_r.panel
%end;
;
run;

@Kurt_Bremser You definitely haven't tested this code. In my environment an "empty" set statement uses _last_ - and using EG there is always a _last_. And with SET also in the macro condition an empty data set gets created.

Re: SET data set if exists

Patrick — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:01:22 GMT

@Ronein Below one way to go.

libname r_r "%sysfunc(pathname(work))";
data r_r.panel;
  set sashelp.class;
run;

%macro backup(in=,backup=);
  %if %sysfunc(exist(&in,data)) or %sysfunc(exist(&in,view)) %then
    %do;
      proc datasets lib=%scan(work.&backup,1) nolist nowarn;
        delete %scan(&backup,-1);
        run;
        append
          base=&backup data=&in;
        run;
      quit;
    %end;
%mend;
%backup(in=r_r.panel,backup=r_r.backup)

Re: SET data set if exists

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:06:18 GMT

I was only showing use of macro code, without regard for the validity of the created code.

Re: SET data set if exists

Ronein — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:10:39 GMT

Yes but my question was why way2 is not working well and what is this data set that was created?

Re: SET data set if exists

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:12:26 GMT

@Ronein wrote:
Yes but my question was why way2 is not working well and what is this data set that was created?

Read @Patrick 's post for the details.

Re: SET data set if exists

AMSAS — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 17:54:41 GMT

Example 1 in the exist function documenation can be changed to achieve what you want