Unable to access "Sales.xls" file in SAS lesson 7 - e-course Programming 1 Essentials

[dw_vt]

Hello,

I'm sure this question is common.

I'm in lesson 7 of the e-course "Programming 1 Essentials" where I am to execute the code:

libname orionx pcfiles path="&path/sales.xls";

System response:

ERROR: The SERVER= option is required for establishing a
connection through the SAS/ACCESS Interface to PC Files.

This may mean I don't have the Oracle virtual-box setting correctly?

I do have "Shared Folders" configured for a folder in my Window's 7 PC hard drive - in the virtual-box config.

Can someone point me to the steps I need to perform to ensure I'm able to continue?

Thanks

Duane

[Cynthia_sas]

Hi:

  Please read this previous response to the same question:

https://communities.sas.com/t5/Base-SAS-Programming/Lesson-7-Reading-Spreadsheet-and-Database-Data-I...

  Bottom line, we knew, in advance, that students using the Univ Edition would not have the correct PC File Server helper files to use the LIBNAME engine. So the Excel files (sales.xls, custfm.xls, etc) were not provided in the course for UE students.

  Please note the screen shot in the previous posting. You are explicitly instructed to write the code, but NOT submit the code. You are to compare your code to the solution to see if you understand how the LIBNAME engine for EXCEL works.

Cynthia

[dw_vt]

Well I think I may have figured it out.
In my C Drive my shared folder was not named "myfolders". By creating this and resetting the virtualbox configuration to it. The files in this folder now show up in the SAS studio "Files and Folders" listing, and I can use PROC IMPORT to access an Excel file that I've created.

[Cynthia_sas]

Great figuring that out! The LIBNAME engine method, as you've discovered, is not the ONLY method of importing Excel files. In your career as a SAS user/programmer, you'll have to become conversant about the many different methods. We do recommend that you study the LIBNAME syntax method that's covered in the course, especially if you plan to pursue certification and take the exam.

Cynthia