I'm trying to convert a SAS dataset (9.4) to a .dbf file. I want to keep the lengths I specified in SAS. I can do this using the StatTransfer product, thru the interface. HOWEVER, we would like to directly call StatTransfer from SAS and run it there. I have managed to do this with the following call in SAS:
%SYSEXEC("C:\Program Files\StatTransfer12-64\st.exe" "U:\Jackie\sasdata\s001_combine001.sas7bdat" "U:\Jackie\sasdata\testdata.dbf" /Y );
This does NOT keep my lengths. I tried contacting StatTransfer and after much arguing and explaining they told me to try using a SET command and copy. I tried the following from a DOS prompt after executing the st.exe command:
SET read-sas-fmts y
COPY "U:\Jackie\sasdata\s001_combine001.sas7bdat" "U:\Jackie\sasdata\testdata.dbf"
Still no luck keeping the formats. I thought I would throw it out here to see if anyone has any suggestions.
Thanks for your help!
I don't think that you from the SAS point of view can affect the outcome from a 3rd party product like this.
You are probably best off contacting support/forums for StatTransfer instead.
You say in the start of your question " I want to keep the lengths I specified in SAS" but later say "Still no luck keeping the formats".
Formats are not lengths nor vice versa. Which did you as the tech support length or formatted value?
A possible work-around would be to create the text versions of the variables using
TextVarX = Put(VarX, format_for_varX.);
statements and exporting that data set.
Sorry, you are correct. Most important is that I keep the length of the fields. So, if the field length is set to 50, but the longest value within it is 32, I still need the field to be set up as a length of 50.
Why are you converting to a file format that was abandoned over 20 years ago?
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