SAS Programming 1: Essentials, Accessing Date, NP Library set up

[Bpotter136]

In Programming I Essentials, I am using SAS Studio. The instructions are confusing. I had to use this line of code to get the NP library to appear correctly: 

libname np xlsx "&path/np_info.xlsx";

 Seems like the instructions say something else for using SAS Studio. Could you look into this issue please? 

Perform the following tasks in your SAS software:

• Open a new program window.
  Write a LIBNAME statement to create a library named NP that reads np_info.xlsx in the course data as follows:
  • SAS Studio: Specify the full path to your EPG1V2/data folder and the complete file name.
  • Enterprise Guide: Specify &path and the complete file name.
• Run the LIBNAME statement.
  Navigate to your list of libraries and open the NP library. How many tables are there in the NP library?

     
libname np xlsx "FILEPATH/np_info.xlsx"; 
/* Enterprise Guide: */
libname np xlsx "&path/np_info.xlsx"; 

There are three tables in the NP library: Parks, Species, and Visits.

• Write an OPTIONS statement to ensure that column names follow SAS naming conventions.
  Write a PROC CONTENTS step to read the Parks table in the NP library.
  Add a LIBNAME statement after PROC CONTENTS to clear the NP library.
  Run the program and examine the log. Which column names have been modified to follow SAS naming conventions?

options validvarname=v7;
proc contents data=np.parks;
run;
libname np clear;

Park Code changed to Park_Code and Park Name changed to Park_Name.

[ballardw]

What does the value of &path look like?

If you aren't sure you should be able to submit code:  %put Path is: &path; and value should appear in the log as Path is: <something here>

If &path looks like a drive and some folders then that is exactly what is meant by

Specify the full path to your EPG1V2/data folder

And the file name is np_info.xlsx. The macro variable &path apparently has the Text needed to be equivalent to "FILENAME".

I suspect that the documentation may not be quite keeping up with the installation program contents.

[Bpotter136]

I think your last sentence clarifies this issue for me. It looks like the instructions may need to be updated. I got the practice done; don't want others to get frustrated or complain.