Proc import vs FILENAME REFFILE

[hwangnyc]

Hi everyone,

Can someone tell me the pros and cons of Proc import vs FILENAME REFFILE for importing in excel files? Why would you do one vs. the other? Thank you!

HW 

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

FILENAME creates a reference to a file, either one that already exists or creating one.  In terms of importing data, usually when someone mentions FILENAME that's in conjunction with a data step. However, a data step is for text files, it cannot be used to read an Excel file. 

PROC IMPORT or a LIBNAME statement are the primary ways to read an Excel file. 

Other ways include DDE or ODBC but they aren't used as much. DDE should not be used for new processes, it's really old technology and is unsafe. 

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@hwangnyc wrote:

Hi everyone,

Can someone tell me the pros and cons of Proc import vs FILENAME REFFILE for importing in excel files? Why would you do one vs. the other? Thank you!

HW 

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