Date:         Fri, 26 Mar 1999 15:18:48 -0700
Reply-To:     Jack Hamilton <JackHamilton@FIRSTHEALTH.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jack Hamilton <JackHamilton@FIRSTHEALTH.COM>
Subject:      Re: SCL External I-O in DATA Step
Comments: To: Howard_Schreier@ITA.DOC.GOV
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Howard Schreier <Howard_Schreier@ITA.DOC.GOV> wrote: 
 
>I am trying to use SCL functions in a DATA step to read/write 
>external files. It seems to almost work.
>
>Here is my test program:
>
>* Delete file if it exists;
>x 'del c:\sas\test.txt';
>
>data _null_;
>* Associate file reference with OS filename;
>   rcode1  = filename('scltest','test.txt');
>* Open for output, with 80-byte fixed-format records;
>   file_id = fopen('scltest','O',80,'F');
>* Write an arbitrary string;
>   rcode3  = fput(file_id ,'A string to be written');
 
You need to add 
 
   rcode3a = fwrite(file_id); 
 
The FPUT function puts a string in the file output buffer.  The FWRITE function causes the buffer to be written to the file. 
 
>* Housekeeping;
>   rcode4  = fclose(file_id );
>   rcode5  = filename('scltest','');
>put _all_;
>run;
 
>Second question (assumes getting past the first): What I really want 
>to do is mix SCL and DATA step statements. Specifically, functions 
>(FILENAME, FOPEN, FCLOSE) would be used for the setup and housekeeping 
>but INPUT/PUT statements would do the actual data transfer. Feasible?
 
I haven't tried that in particular, but I've tried similar things, and had no success.  I think version 7 will give you the ability to read to and write from variables, not just files, which will give you the capability you want. 
 
 
 
--
JackHamilton@FirstHealth.com
Development Manager, METRICS
First Health, West Sacramento, California USA
 
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