gracefully handling locked sequential files when reading

[BenConner]

Hi,

I seem to do a fair amount of processing multiple log files in a folder, and typically use the infile ... filevar= approach using a DO loop.  Once in a while one of the files being read is opened in exclusive mode by another application, which throws an error and causes the data step not to finish.

Is there a graceful way to continue processing the rest of the files while skipping the locked one?

Thanks!

--Ben

[LinusH · Accepted solution]

FOPEN() might be a way:

SAS(R) 9.4 Functions and CALL Routines: Reference, Third Edition

[BenConner]

Hi Linus,

That looks like it would work, with a filename()/fopen() combination.  Thanks!

--Ben

[Patrick]

System option "FILELOCKWAIT" could be of interest to you.

SAS(R) 9.4 Companion for UNIX Environments, Fourth Edition

SAS(R) 9.4 Companion for Windows, Third Edition

[BenConner]

Hi Patrick,

Unfortunately the filelockwait option applies to SAS files only.  These are sequential ones.  Good choice for SAS files, though!

--Ben

[jakarman]

Do not process the logfiles that active written to.You are not having a technical problem you are having a logical one.

At the moment you are reading writing is not allowed and vice versa. That is a generic prerequisition locking is a solution to synchronize actions.