topic using rcmd -delete folder containing files - on ftp server in SAS Procedures

using rcmd -delete folder containing files - on ftp server

venka — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 17:57:31 GMT

I basically want to delete a folder 'test_fldr' on ftp server, and can not because folder is not empty.
tried rcmd='rmd /Test/test_fldr' (folder not empty)
tried rcmd='rmd -r /Test/test_fldr' (invalid file name, apparently -r is not recognized)

problem:
so decided to delete files in the folder first, as you see in following code
rcmd='dele *.*' debug does not work.

%macro del_temp;
filename del ftp 'x'   /* it doesn't work with empty ' ', so decided with x */
/* connect */
        host='111.111.111.111'
        user='abcd'
        pass='YYYYYYYYYYY'
/* change directory */
        cd='/Test/test_fldr'
        rcmd='dele *.*' debug /* struck here: extrct from log "NOTE: <<< 550 *.*: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. "
        ;
data _null_;
file del;
run;
%mend;

%del_temp

any help would be appreciated.

Re: using rcmd -delete folder containing files - on ftp server

jakarman — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 09:41:00 GMT

This is not a SAS issue. The ftp server is allowing some commands and there will be restrictions as of security on those files.

Try to find those and after that you could go on with the attempt using the SAS interfacing. (rcmd usage)

Re: using rcmd -delete folder containing files - on ftp server

RW9 — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 09:55:11 GMT

Concur with Jaap, also to add there is probably a very good reason why deleting things via ftp is not allowed! Even local file deletion should be undertaken with extreme caution, and backups.