libref asingment worked but when using libname refrence is wrong

[rgjpot]

I tried to assingn a libref name so that i don't have to us the full pathname every time. The name is assinged but when i try to use it is does not work.

This is the code i used.

libname GD "H:\Mijn Documenten\Finacien\mi\Mi 2021\Glims";
run;

proc import
datafile = "GD\Factuur_210201_01.xls" out=glims_data_2021;
range="blad1$B12:0";

run;

This is the log I get 

NOTE: Libref GD was successfully assigned as follows:
Engine: V9
Physical Name: H:\Mijn Documenten\Finacien\mi\Mi 2021\Glims
30 run;
31 *importeren van de data;

32 proc import
33 datafile = "GD\Factuur_210201_01.xls" out=glims_data_2021;
34 range="blad1$B12:0";
35
36 run;

ERROR: Unable to open file C:\WINDOWS\system32\GD\Factuur_210201_01.xls. It does not exist or it is already opened exclusively by another user, or you need permission to view its data.
NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors.
NOTE: PROCEDURE IMPORT used (Total process time):
real time 0.03 seconds
cpu time 0.01 seconds

Can someone tell me what i do wrong. Thanks in advance

[BrunoMueller]

When importing Excel files using Proc IMPORT you will not use a libref, but rather a physical filename.

So change your code from

proc import
datafile = "GD\Factuur_210201_01.xls" out=glims_data_2021;
range="blad1$B12:0";

run;

to

proc import
datafile = "H:\Mijn Documenten\Finacien\mi\Mi 2021\Glims\Factuur_210201_01.xls" out=glims_data_2021;
range="blad1$B12:0";

run;

And you should be fine.

The result of Proc IMPORT is a SAS dataset named glims_data_2021 in the WORK library. Where do you want to have your  SAS data set stored? 

BTW there is no need to use a RUN; after the LIBNAME statement.

[rgjpot]

Hello Bruno,

Thank you for your reply. This works but the reason I want to use a libname is that I need to import data from 3 years with 2 files per month so I would like to prevent typing the hole path every time. Is there a way to do this?

[BrunoMueller · Accepted solution]

For the use case you describe, I recommend using a macro variable like so:

%let dataPath = H:\Mijn Documenten\Finacien\mi\Mi 2021\Glims;

proc import
datafile = "&dataPath\Factuur_210201_01.xls" out=glims_data_2021;
range="blad1$B12:0";
run;

The %LET creates the macro variable. Macro variable just contain some text. With &varname you can place the text stored in the macro variable anywhere you need it in your code.