topic How to turn the output of an x command into a variable in SAS Programming

How to turn the output of an x command into a variable

fgasdg — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 14:55:37 GMT

I'm looking to get the output of unix command

%let myfile = x 'ls -tr /sas/data/mydata | tail -1';

to be added into the sas program as a variable &myfile to use in the program and I can get awa from hardcoded filenames.

Any ideas?

Re: How to turn the output of an x command into a variable

Reeza — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:24:00 GMT

This macro, not mine, will generate the directory listing of a folder into a data set and can recursively search the subfolders. Set the depth to control it not searching.

https://github.com/sasutils/macros/blob/master/dirtree.sas

Re: How to turn the output of an x command into a variable

s_lassen — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:19:00 GMT

You probably want to use a PIPE device, e.g.:

filename ls pipe 'ls -tr /sas/data/mydata | tail -1';
data want;
  infile ls;
  input <whatever you want from the input>;
  call symputx('myfile',<the variable you read>);
run;

Re: How to turn the output of an x command into a variable

fgasdg — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 14:05:53 GMT

Exactly what I needed. Works perfectly! thanks!