topic Re: How to keep a long file name? in SAS Programming

How to keep a long file name?

angeliquec — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 02:34:41 GMT

Hi all,

I have a very long file name which SAS is unable to read (the file name gets cut in the middle). How can I keep the long file name?

I'm just using a data step, and a file statement.

I used the following code:

data _null_;

file "&filename";

I get an error during the run because the filename gets cut. I think I've used a %str function before to retain the long name, but I can't seem to get the code right.

Thank you!

Re: How to keep a long file name?

Kurt_Bremser — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 08:13:05 GMT

Would you please post the %let filename= statement?

Re: How to keep a long file name?

jakarman — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 09:39:37 GMT

Do not use physical names that was. You can use them by defining a filename and then use fileref(membername) .

Re: How to keep a long file name?

angeliquec — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 02:39:43 GMT

Hi Kurt,

Here it is:

%let filename = C:\Users\angelique.castaneda\Documents\Work\Practice Codes;

Yes, there is a space between Practice and Codes. In our production paths, some folder names have spaces which we cannot revise to put underscores instead.

Re: How to keep a long file name?

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 06:22:06 GMT

Oh, the stupidity of users. (something I mutter under my breath, and often quite loud, at least 10 times a day).

In this case, try

file "'&filename'";

But I recommend putting up a sign:

"Every third user creating a directory with a blank is shot. Two were already warned."

Re: How to keep a long file name?

angeliquec — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 06:27:54 GMT

Thank you Kurt!

Re: How to keep a long file name?

jakarman — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 06:45:46 GMT

I would prefer using:

filename Angel "C:\Users\angelique.castaneda\Documents\Work\" ;

/* by an autoexec usermods as a standard for an application SASApp */

Then proceed:

file Angel("Practice Codes") ;

/* to be used in the same way when needing anchors */

Re: How to keep a long file name?

Babloo — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 07:24:17 GMT

I tried like below in my SAS EG 5.1. But encountered by error as follows.

I can't guess the likely error in this code.

15 %let filename = "/data/PPM/Sample Check"; **unix folder

16 data _null_;

17 file "'&filename'";

NOTE: Line generated by the macro variable "FILENAME".

17 "'"/data/PPM/Sample Check"

ERROR 23-2: Invalid option name /.

Re: How to keep a long file name?

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 07:34:21 GMT

Pleas don't append your question to an already solved thread. Start a new one instead.

Re: How to keep a long file name?

CTorres — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:45:23 GMT

Remove the quotes in the %let statement: %let filename = /data/PPM/Sample Check;