topic Re: How to directly edit files in EG in SAS Enterprise Guide

How to directly edit files in EG

BruceBrad — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:25:30 GMT

I have a file open from the library browser in enterprise guide. I want to edit the file in the browser. For example, to change a format on a variable temporarily to inspect the data. How do I switch to edit mode to do this?

Re: How to directly edit files in EG

yabwon — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:45:29 GMT

In contrary to SAS Display Manager SAS EG is just a "flat" client that allows to run code and preview data, but not edit datasets directly. Such edits, which were possible in DMS ViewTable tool, are not easy when you have EG on your local machine and the data on the other side of word on a remote server.

What I'd do is to use for example proc print with format statement, plus OBS= data set option to limit printed observations, e.g.,

proc print data=sashelp.class(obs=5);
  format Height yymmdd10.;
run;

to get:

Bart

Re: How to directly edit files in EG

BruceBrad — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:00:33 GMT

OK, so not possible. (Of course, many of us are using EG with the data on the same machine, but I understand the general principle).

Re: How to directly edit files in EG

ChrisHemedinger — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:16:28 GMT

You can edit data in EG. To trigger Edit mode, simply press a key when the cursor is focused on a value in the data grid view. If you have write access to the library, you will be prompted to go into Edit mode.

You can then change values, and right-click on a column to change its properties. This can include Formats and Informats.

All changes that you make are immediate and permanent, so if you just want a view with another format, it might not be what you want to do.

If you want to apply a new format without creating a copy of the data, you could create a VIEW:

data class / view=class; set sashelp.class; format Height dollar8.; run;

Re: How to directly edit files in EG

yabwon — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:00:01 GMT

@ChrisHemedinger

Hey Chris, Thank you! I Didn't know that!

Bart

Re: How to directly edit files in EG

BruceBrad — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 23:53:20 GMT

This is perfect. I'm doing this when testing the program, and will re-create the datafile at the end.

Re: How to directly edit files in EG

yabwon — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:26:11 GMT

@BruceBrad since my answer is clearly wrong, maybe you can mark @ChrisHemedinger answer as the solution?

Re: How to directly edit files in EG

BruceBrad — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:34:01 GMT

Can't see how to undo my solution choice. Is that possible?

Re: How to directly edit files in EG

ChrisHemedinger — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:37:33 GMT

Hi @BruceBrad - no, there is no Undo with this feature. So my advice is to use it only on temp data (for experimenting) or in a situation where you need to make a permanent change.

Since there is no code generated as part of this operation, it's not repeatable in the same way a code step or task step would be in your flow.

Re: How to directly edit files in EG

BruceBrad — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:18:34 GMT

Looks like the moderator has changed the solution to the correct one. Thanks all.