Unable to open .sas7bdat file

[mramanan]

I'm reacquainting myself with SAS after about 4 years- not able to open a .sas7bdat file.

I get the error message attached below. Can anyone tell me what the problem is?

[Reeza]

Given the error most likely you're referencing the data incorrectly doing something wrong. But since you haven't provided any other information that's all we can say. 

How are you trying to 'open' this file? What options have you tried that didn't work? More information please.

https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Communities-Library/How-to-ask-a-question-in-SAS-Analytics-U-Comm...

[mramanan]

Initially I tried opening it by double clicking on the file. It works for the other files...

Then I tried this code:

proc import out=work.pat
       datafile="C:\Users\mahes\Documents\Research\Current\eurobact\sas data files\pat.sas7bdat"
       dbms=pcfs;
run;

Bridge server not answering
ERROR: Import unsuccessful.  See SAS Log for details.

[ballardw]

Did the dataset originate in a different operating system?

A different version of SAS?

Note that one of the things that has crept in with 64 bit files is that older versions of SAS may well not open a current data set.

So which version of SAS are you using? Do you know which created it?

Are there any operating system permissions issues such as the data set being read only or you as a user not having permission to read it?

[mramanan]

Actually that's a good point.

I'm using SAS 9.4 on a 64-bit windows 10 computer. I don't know which version of SAS the file was created in but that may well be problem. I'll try to find out.

I don't think permissions are an issue on my computer.

I'll try to open the file on my old computer which I think still has SAS 9.2 in case that works...

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

You don't import a file. Assign a library and try and connect to the file.

If it's a mismatch with types there's usually, but not always, different errors than the one indicated.

libname pathFile '/folders/myfolders/myfiles/';

proc contents data=pathFile;

run;

[mramanan]

Thanks for that. Makes sense. And it seems to work.

Appreciate your help..