String variables not accessable when read with Proc Import from Excel

[dmanteigas]

Hi there,

I'm having a problem in using PROC IMPORT to import excel files into SAS. I'm using the following code:

PROC IMPORT DATAFILE="FILE.xlsx"
	DBMS=xlsx replace
	OUT=FILE;
RUN; 

It appears to be everything ok with the dataset. However, when I try to referece string variables (for instance, "IF VAR='STRINGVALUE') I never get anything as a result. I used trim, strip and compress to check if there was any problem with blanks and it didn't work. I imported the dataset as CSV and it worked right. Proc Contents doesn't show anything unusual with dataset attributes. Does anyone knows what the problem may be?

Regards,

David

[Kurt_Bremser]

Could you show as the offending data step code and the output of proc contents for the imported dataset WORK.FILE?

[RW9]

The problem could be a number of things.  CAn you extract a bit of the imported dataset, into a datastep and post here:

This post:
https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Communities-Library/How-to-create-a-data-step-version-of-your-dat...

Shows how to do it.

And then show us the logic you are trying to apply to it. 

Do note that using CSV would always be my preferred solution - fix your datastep import program based on the specifications document agreed with the vendor.  This minimises issues.  Excel is not a good data medium.