topic How can I export to a file path that contains an apostrophe? in SAS Programming

How can I export to a file path that contains an apostrophe?

JFuchsia — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:01:17 GMT

Hello,

I am trying to export to a file that contains an apostrophe using the following:

proc export data=datasas2
outfile="C:\user\filepath\John's Folder\file.xlsx"
dbms=excel replace;
run;

I've tried to place the file path in a macro using %let with %quote, but I'm sure that I'm not using this correctly.

Please help.

Many thanks,

JFuchsia

Re: How can I export to a file path that contains an apostrophe?

JFuchsia — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:02:57 GMT

PS. I can't change the file path due to some pretty strict IT constraints. Thanks.

Re: How can I export to a file path that contains an apostrophe?

Tom — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:45:59 GMT

The code you showed should work fine.

So what code did you try that did NOT work?

Re: How can I export to a file path that contains an apostrophe?

ballardw — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:03:11 GMT

@JFuchsia wrote:
PS. I can't change the file path due to some pretty strict IT constraints. Thanks.

"Strict IT constraints" and apostrophe in path points to a pretty not-tech savvy IT. Spaces in file paths are enough of a challenge (looking at the path might not tell the difference between one or two spaces easily) but special characters like comma * dash single quote or double quote are just asking for all sorts of stupid problems.

One stupid problem involving quotes is the ASCII ' or " character versus "smart quotes" which have a curly appearance and often not noticed by folks. If your actual path uses the curly quotes you don't have the correct character on your keyboard.

Re: How can I export to a file path that contains an apostrophe?

Tom — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 02:06:24 GMT

Just put the whole path you used in the example code into the macro variable.

There is no need for macro quoting when you have real quoting.

%let filename="C:\user\filepath\John's Folder\file.xlsx";

Then just use the macro variable where you need a quoted filename.

proc export data=datasas2
  outfile=&filename
  dbms=xlsx replace
;
run;

Re: How can I export to a file path that contains an apostrophe?

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:29:14 GMT

@ballardw wrote:

@JFuchsia wrote:
PS. I can't change the file path due to some pretty strict IT constraints. Thanks.

"Strict IT constraints" and apostrophe in path points to a pretty not-tech savvy IT.

Nicely said. I would have called them "brain-amputated idiots".