List all dataset names in a library

[jmarroyo]

Good Day! I am using using SAS Essentials, by Elliot and Woodward, to get my feet wet with SAS. The following code displays a list of the data after importing the file somedata (in the directory it is somedata.sas7bdat):

*******************************************************
* From SAS ESSENTIALS, Jossey Bass/Wiley              *
* (C) 2010 Elliott, Alan C. and Woodward, Wayne A.    *
*******************************************************;
PROC DATASETS;
CONTENTS DATA= "/folders/myfolders/sasdata/somedata";
RUN;

However, the authors say to display information about all data sets in the  sasdata library I should

CONTENTS DATA= "/folders/myfolders/sasdata/somedata._ALL_";but I do

PROC DATASETS;
CONTENTS DATA= "/folders/myfolders/sasdata/sasdata._ALL_";
RUN;

Log is:

1 OPTIONS NONOTES NOSTIMER NOSOURCE NOSYNTAXCHECK;

55

56 *******************************************************

57 * From SAS ESSENTIALS, Jossey Bass/Wiley *

58 * (C) 2010 Elliott, Alan C. and Woodward, Wayne A. *

59 *******************************************************;

60 PROC DATASETS;

61 CONTENTS DATA= "/folders/myfolders/sasdata/sasdata._ALL_";

ERROR: Extension for physical file name "/folders/myfolders/sasdata/sasdata._ALL_" does not correspond to a valid member type.

NOTE: Enter RUN; to continue or QUIT; to end the procedure.

62 RUN;

NOTE: Statements not processed because of errors noted above.

63

64

65 OPTIONS NONOTES NOSTIMER NOSOURCE NOSYNTAXCHECK;

77

Any suggestions?

  Most appreciative

PS I am using SAS University ed on Windows 7 VM Virtual Box Manager

[Reeza]

The book lists notations like in your code, including the portion in blue?

PROC DATASETS;
CONTENTS DATA= "/folders/myfolders/sasdata/somedata";
RUN;

[jmarroyo]

No Sir. I had to modify the original file location because I am using the University Edition, and as you are well aware, I have to put all my files (and subdirectories, ie. sasdata) where they are to be accesible to Virtual box. the original code was:

DATAFILE= C:\SASDATA\SOMEDATA;

Hope this answers your question and most appreciative for any assistance

[Reeza]

Not a Sir. 

[jmarroyo]

Your name is the same as a good friend. My deepest and most sincere apologies!

[Reeza]

They appear to be using a non-standard convention. I would recommend a different book to learn from. 

The Little SAS Book for SAS University Edition is probably a better starting point. 

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

Usually the notation suggestion is LIBNAME._all_

So your code should look like the following, assuming your libname is correct. Note that proc datasets requires a QUIT. 

libname mylib '/folders/myfolders/sasdata/sasdata';

PROC DATASETS;
CONTENTS DATA= mylib._all_;
RUN;QUIT;

[jmarroyo]

This works. Most appreciative!