topic Re: file transfer using x commands to mask macro varibales in SAS Enterprise Guide

file transfer using x commands to mask macro varibales

harsham — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 08:36:00 GMT

Hi All,

I have a scenario as mentioned below

OS UNIX

source= /sas/basesas/avancedsas/advancedsas & basesas/abc.xls

destination=/one/two/three

I need to do a file transfer in sas eg 5.1 using x commands from source to destination.

Kindly suggest how to mask " & " values while performing FTP using X commands?

Re: file transfer using x commands to mask macro varibales

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 08:49:12 GMT

Using "&" in a pathname in a UNIX system is REALLY BAD, as the & character has very special meaning to the operating system.

Name your path like this:

/sas/basesas/avancedsas/advancedsas_and_basesas

and all your problems vanish in a puff of logic smoke.

See Maxim 44 and Maxim 15.

Re: file transfer using x commands to mask macro varibales

harsham — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 09:36:45 GMT

No it's not possible to make a change, please let me know in case of any alternatives

Re: file transfer using x commands to mask macro varibales

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 09:41:49 GMT

It's always possible to correct a mistake. In this case, the mistake is so egregious that making the change is not only possible, but mandatory.

Keeping that & in the pathname along with the blanks is an exercise in stupidity.

Re: file transfer using x commands to mask macro varibales

Astounding — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:13:16 GMT

The X command expects the command itself to be in quotes. If you use single quotes instead of double quotes, that automatically masks all macro references.