True. looking at the SAS code generated by SAS when importing Excel files by using the wizard, SAS put DBMS=Excel by default, with several options that resemble those of DBMS=XLS.   It works fine with me (DBMS=Excel ) until I import Excel Sheets that have more than 255 column. In fact columns beyond 255 column are ignored by the program without any warning sign.    The only choice is to use DBMS=XLSX. ... View more

Thank you Chris.    Just as what you suggest, when put DBMS =  XLSX, only a few options are supported, according to SAS documentation.   Available Statements for Importing and Exporting Excel Files Using DBMS=XLS and DBMS=XLSX           DBMS= Identifier Option Valid Value Default Value PROC PROC         IMPORT EXPORT XLS ENDCOL Last column for data Last column that contains data Yes No   ENDNAMEROW Last row for variable names Same as NAMEROW Yes No   ENDROW Last row for data Last row that contains data Yes No   GETNAMES Yes | No Yes Yes No   NAMEROW First row for variable names First row that contains variable names Yes No   NEWFILE Yes | No No No Yes   PUTNAMES Yes | No Yes No Yes   RANGE name | sheet$ul:lr First row Yes No   SHEET Sheet name First sheet Yes Yes   STARTCOL First column for data Last column that contains data Yes No   STARTROW First row for data First row that contains data Yes No XLSX GETNAMES Yes | No Yes Yes No   RANGE name | sheet$ul:lr First row Yes No   SHEET Sheet name First sheet Yes Yes ... View more