Looking for Non-SAS Data within a directory

[whs278]

Is there a way to look at all files in directory using SAS code similar to os.listdir() in python or list.files() in R?  I know you in SAS EG, you point and clock File-Open Data, but I was just curious if there was some SAS code that could do the same thing.

[ballardw]

In SAS there are a number of functions related to manipulating external, i.e. Non-SAS files.

You can search in the documentation for Functions and look at the External Files section. https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.4/lefunctionsref/n01f5qrjoh9h4hn1olbdpb5pr2td.h...

There are examples in the documentation using the functions.

I would strongly recommend creating practice data to work with these functions, as in a directory or two with practice files you don't mind losing as it is relatively easy to delete files or change contents and practice with known and expendable data is a good idea.

[Ksharp · Accepted solution]

data _null_;
rc=filename('x','c:\temp\');
did=dopen('x');
do i=1 to dnum(did);
 fname=dread(did,i);put fname=;
end;
did=dclose(did);
run;

[Tom]

In general it is very easy to just read the output of whatever operating system command generates a list of files on your machine.

data files;
  infile 'ls -d /mydir/*' pipe truncover;
  input filename $200.;
run;
data files;
  infile 'dir /b c:\mydir' pipe truncover;
  input filename $200.;
run;

If you are stuck running on a SAS session that has disabled your ability to run operating system commands then use the DOPEN() and DREAD() function.

For example as done with this macro:

https://github.com/sasutils/macros/blob/master/dirtree.sas

[AllanBowe]

Of course - here is a macro to give a directory listing (it also works recursively, and does not require XCMD): https://core.sasjs.io/mp__dirlist_8sas.html

[whs278]

This is nice.  I will have to try it out.  I was hoping for a one line solution similar to the functions that exist in R and Python. 

[Ksharp]

If you could use OS command, that is the best choice !