topic Re: Can SAS Write the text of an Error Message to a field? in SAS Programming

Can SAS Write the text of an Error Message to a field?

texasmfp — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 07:32:28 GMT

A program I run frequently generates two ERROR messages. Is there a way to have the message written to a variable and saved in a database? Note that I am looking for the actual text of the ERROR message to be written to a variable. For example:

ERROR: Incomplete JSON in input

I'd like to save the string "Incomplete JSON in input" as the value in a field, call it errorlog.

Thanks

Re: Can SAS Write the text of an Error Message to a field?

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 07:44:33 GMT

Look at the SYSERRORTEXT automatic macro variable.

Re: Can SAS Write the text of an Error Message to a field?

texasmfp — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 08:02:20 GMT

Thanks Kurt. While that is a neat tidbit, it seems to only put the 2nd line of the 2-line error message. For example, when I get the following error

ERROR: Incomplete JSON in input

ERROR: Error in the LIBNAME statement.

%put &syserrortext; only prints the 2nd of the two lines in the log

SYMBOLGEN: Macro variable SYSERRORTEXT resolves to Error in the LIBNAME statement.
Error in the LIBNAME statement.

Unfortunately, I am trying to distinguish between two different errors, but each has the same 2nd message.

ERROR: Incomplete JSON in input

ERROR: Error in the LIBNAME statement.

versus

ERROR: Physical file does not exist, e:\SAS Temporary Files\_TD10912_DESKTOP-575EP3T_\#LN01301.

ERROR: Error in the LIBNAME statement.

Re: Can SAS Write the text of an Error Message to a field?

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 08:26:54 GMT

That will be a problem with steps causing more than one message, as the macro variable always displays the last message only.

I can only propose two workarounds:

check the automatic macro variables SYSCC and SYSERR to see which codes are set when your "target problem" arises. From these you can then possibly deduct the ERROR text.
if this has to be done for batch programs, check the log file after the program ends for the text and, if encountered, run a quick SAS program that adds the program name and message to a dataset. Basically, do a simple log file parsing.

Re: Can SAS Write the text of an Error Message to a field?

texasmfp — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 08:49:54 GMT

Kurt: neither of those will work, but there is yet another system variable that appears to work: &syslibrc appears to generate different values for the two errors. Thanks