We have a batch process that imports a large number of EXCEL workbooks.
Sometimes a field which ought to be numeric contains character data.
This error stops the entire process.
We would like to be able to note/trap the error and continue importing the rest of the workbooks.
Are you using SAS PROC IMPORT or are you using some DATA step or another technique to "import" your data to SAS? You can always use INFILE/INPUT processing, input the field as CHARACTER, test it using an ANYxxxxx type function and execute accordingly as you prescribe in your program.
As Scott says, the usual way to do this is to
- read values into temp character variables,
- test the validity of the values,
- convert to numeric and drop temp character variables,
- save.
You need to code error handling routines to trap and reset error codes to let your process continue. I found several papers that my help you for instance http://www.nesug.org/proceedings/nesug05/ap/ap9.pdf