Order shouldn't matter. What will matter are variable types: variable x in the base set has to be the same type, numeric or character in both sets. If the variable is character length might have an effect and will generate error messages and might require the FORCE option. The BASE data set length will be maintained in that case so stuffing 18 characters into 3 likely results in truncated (read: incomplete) data for those variables.   A variable in the base set may be missing in the appended data and generate a warning. A variable in the appended data that does not exist in the base data will generate and Error. Force will allow appending the data but the new variable(s) will not be added to the set.  ... View more

Use the YYQ informat: numvar = input(charvar,yyq6.); format numvar date9.; ... View more

  Works in 9.4M2 64bit Win 7 64bit %utlfkil(d:/xls/class.xlsx); libname xl "d:/xls/class.xlsx"; data xl.tablename; set sashelp.class; run; proc sql; drop table xl.tablename; quit; data xl.tablename; set sashelp.class; run; libname xl clear;   393 %utlfkil(d:/xls/class.xlsx); * delete if exists; 394 libname xl "d:/xls/class.xlsx"; NOTE: Libref XL was successfully assigned as follows: Engine: EXCEL Physical Name: d:/xls/class.xlsx 395 data xl.tablename; 396 set sashelp.class; 397 run; NOTE: There were 19 observations read from the data set SASHELP.CLASS. NOTE: The data set XL.tablename has 19 observations and 5 variables. NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time): real time 0.00 seconds user cpu time 0.00 seconds system cpu time 0.01 seconds memory 412.56k OS Memory 15848.00k Timestamp 01/04/2017 01:21:29 PM Step Count 106 Switch Count 0 398 proc sql; 399 drop table xl.tablename; NOTE: Table XL.tablename has been dropped. 400 quit; NOTE: PROCEDURE SQL used (Total process time): real time 0.00 seconds user cpu time 0.00 seconds system cpu time 0.00 seconds memory 69.25k OS Memory 15848.00k Timestamp 01/04/2017 01:21:29 PM Step Count 107 Switch Count 0 401 data xl.tablename; 402 set sashelp.class; 403 run; NOTE: There were 19 observations read from the data set SASHELP.CLASS. NOTE: The data set XL.tablename has 19 observations and 5 variables. NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time): real time 0.00 seconds user cpu time 0.00 seconds system cpu time 0.01 seconds memory 409.12k OS Memory 15848.00k Timestamp 01/04/2017 01:21:29 PM Step Count 108 Switch Count 0 404 libname xl clear; NOTE: Libref XL has been deassigned.     ... View more