Replace in file, universal solution.

[Yura2301]

Hi all,

I would like to create some macro that will replace any string in input file(actually formatted file with sas code) to any other string.

I quickly created small code that ,as I thought initially,will solve the task.

%macro replaceInFile(inFileName,outFileName,from,to);

      data _null_;

            length str strNew $32767;

            infile &inFileName dsd dlm='0D'x lrecl=32767;

            input str;

            strNew=tranwrd(str,"&from","&to");

            file &outFileName lrecl=32767;     

            put strNew;

      run;

%mend replaceInFile;

The macro simply use/in out filenames to read one file and create copy of it with replace strings.

Replace I made usingt tranwrd function, and it works ok  - in new file all strings that had to be replaced were actually replaced.

But during further tests I experienced another issues - for some files disappears formtting(start spaces or tabs) and also character ' in some cases also disppear in new file.

In attached file is example of such cases.

If you'll execute that macro for this file - new output file will looks like nigtmare - no formatting, char ' disappears for some expressions etc.

So now I hesitate if it's possible to create some general universal solution for such goals.

Maybe there are some ready smarter approaches for such cases?

Thanks!

[RW9]

Hi,

This is just my 2p's worth.  If I had to do this, I would probably write a small VBA macro in Word and use the search/replace functionality in there.  Should be pretty simple, loop over list of files in directory, then a replace() command.  Reason is you will hit some walls within importing the text files to SAS as data and then exporting them whilst retaining formatting.  Word, which is built to handle text *should* do a better job of it.

There are also freeware out there which do a similar job: Actual Search and Replace - Tool for Text Files

[Yura2301]

Hi Rw9,

Not sure if VBA will work under AIX(on Windows it works for sure).

I also not sure if I'll be able to install that enchanced tool for texts formatting, due security reasons:)

But anyway thanks, will take a look for that text tool that you propose.

[RW9]

Ah, sorry just assumed Win.  There should be something out there for your OS, found this page at a quick search:

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/aix/library/au-textedit.html

Could just use the OS commands to search replace.

[Yura2301]

Ok, clear.

So I have variant of implementation without SAS, that is nice but I still hope that maybe there is some SAS way, maybe some cool option that I just need to put in my macro and everything will work correctly:)

Thanks!

[Kurt_Bremser]

Come on, SAS as a streaming text editor? For all things, on a UNIX system???

Do you always hammer in your screws and try to eat soup with a fork?

UNIX was designed as a text-handling tool. There is a host of text manipulation tools like, eg, awk.

[Yura2301]

Hi Kurt,

Company is moving from Windows to AIX, so I'm new in UNIX.

Offcource SAS isn't best tool for seriosu file manipulations but if the goal is more-less simple why not use SAS?

On Windows I used VBS scripts+X command when I need to made some serious code related with file system etc., but when I had to just copy/rename etc. file I think SAS can be used.

I supposed that replace one word to another in file and save previous file formatting is belong to those "easier" part of tasks, but suppsoe I was wrong due all replier here advise rid of SAS for this task.

Anyway thanks.

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

This works in AIX:

sed -e's/oldttext/newtext/g' oldfile>newfile

The command in the single quotes is what you would do manually in vi

You can of course issue this command from inside SAS with the X statement or the SYSTEM() function or the CALL SYSTEM() routine.

[Yura2301]

Hi Kurt,

yep, after a few tests it looks like this line solve the task, works quick and not demage any spec. character in file.

Thanks!

[Scott_Mitchell]

Have a look and see if it does what you are after.

I haven't used it in a while, so it may require some amendments.

[Yura2301]

Hi Scott,

Your macro looks like has more features, including one that I need, but guys here provide also solutions in one line, so I'll probably will go to study UNIX:)

Thanks!

[jakarman]

This search string: "unix command replace text in file" is given 15M hits as it that common in Unix.  (inventing the wheel?)

The only exception I can think of is rewriting some dynamic web-parts where this is part of an AJAX uhh ASAX  approach

[Yura2301]

Hi Jaap,

As I replied to Kurt - I split tasks related to file manipulations on two parts - simple and complicated, simple task I implement using SAS functions etc., complicated - using X command, bat files, vbs scripts etc.

But innitially I supposed that this concrette task belongs to simper part, du it just replace one word to another in file, but now I'm not sure that I was right, suppose will really need use some unix commands better.

Thanks!

[Ksharp]

VI  editor under UNIX environment.

[Yura2301]

Hi Ksharp,

I need to create code that will do it in loop for many files(>100 sas codes), so if VI editor is just similar to N++(maybe with more features) it anyway not ok due I need to apply changes to batch of files.

Anyway thanks!