how to import an excel file into sas

8/12/2019 How to Import an Excel File Into SAS

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How to Import an Excel File into SAS

Here are the steps to import an Excel file.

1. Examine the content of your Excel file.

A few guidelines:

o It is ideal for the first row to contain the column header because by

default this will be used as the variable names...

o ... and that the data values begin in the second row.

o As much as possible, the variable names (column header) must

conform to the variable naming rules. The rules are:

Variable names must begin with a letter or underscore. The rest can be any

letter, number or underscore. They can also be up to 32 characters long.

Please note, however, that SAS will automatically convert invalid characters in

the variable names (column header) into an underscore when SAS imports the

Excel file into a SAS data set.

o As much as possible, the values of a variable must be of the same

type. SAS uses the first 8 observations to determine the TYPEto

assign to the imported column(s). In case of mixed-types, the type

that is the most dominant in the first 8 observations will be applied.

In case of a tie i.e., four (4) character and four (4) numeric

variables, the numeric type takes precedence. Once imported, values

that do not conform to the assigned type will be converted to missing

values.

o Make sure that rows immediately following the last observation and

columns immediately following the last variable are not activated bydeleting them so that SAS will not mistake them for additional

observations or additional columns, respectively.


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In Example 1:

The first row of data is the column

header. (recommended!)

The second row of data is the start of the data

values. (recommended!)

The column names AGE OF RESPONDENT andSEX:CHAR FORMAT do not conform to the variable

naming rules because of the presence of invalidcharacters - spaces in the former, and colon and space

in the latter. (Not recommended!) You can rename thismanually or let SAS do the renaming automatically. Ifyou let SAS rename the variables automatically, theformer variable will be renamed in the resulting SASdataset as AGE_OF_RESPONDENT and the latter as

SEX_CHAR_FORMAT.


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The data values in each column are consistent in

type. (recommended!)

Rows immediately following the last observation, and

columns immediately following the last variable are notactivated. (recommended!)

Example 2

Example 2 is similar to Example 1 except that thesecond and fourth columns have mixed-type

values. (Not recommended!)

Remember that SAS uses the first 8 observations todetermine the TYPEto assign to the importedcolumn(s). In case of mixed-types, the type that is the

most dominant in the first 8 observations will beapplied. In case of a tie i.e., four (4) character and

four (4) numeric variables, the numeric type takesprecedence.


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Once imported, values that do not conform to the

assigned type will be converted to missing values.

So..

When SAS imports column 2, because there is a tie in

the first 8 observations i.e, four character values andfour numeric values, SAS assigns a numeric type forthis column. The character values will be converted tomissing values.

When SAS imports column 4, because there are morecharacter than numeric values in the first 8

observations, SAS assigns a character type for thiscolumn. The numeric values will be converted to

missing values.

2. Close the Excel File you want to import to avoid a file sharing violation!

3. Open SAS, then clickFile > Import Data(this opens the Import Wizard).

4. The default type is Microsoft Excel, accept the default by clickingNext. This

opens the Connect to MS Exceldialog box.


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5. Click Browse, then locate the Excel fileyou want to import, then

click Open. Suppose we want to import the excel file DEMO1.XLSlocated in

the C:\SASWORKSHOPfolder.

6. Click OK(This opens the Select Table dialog box).

7. Select the table you want to import.

Note: If your Excel file has multiple tables (or worksheets), click the pull-

down (see red arrow above) menu to see the list of worksheets in that Excel

file.

8. Click Options(this opens the Spreadsheet Options dialog box).


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9. Check/Uncheckappropriate boxesin the Spreadsheet Options dialog

box , or accept the default, then click OK.

10.Click Next(this opens the Select Library and Member dialog box).

11.Click the Librarypull-down menu(see red arrow) to select the library

where you want to store the SAS data set to be created. Then enter

the nameof the SAS data set to be created (eg., demo1) in theMember

box(see pink arrow).


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12.Click Next(this opens the Create SAS Statements dialog box).

Note 1: PROC IMPORT is the SAS procedure used to

import your Excel file into SAS. Click Browseto create aSAS program file that contains the PROC IMPORTstatements used to import your Excel file. When you clickBrowse, you will be asked to specifythe nameand locationof the SAS program file. (Bydefault, SAS program files have a .SAS extension.) Thenclick Save.

Note 2: If you want to import multiple tables from the

same Excel file, saving the program file maybe the best


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option for you. Because you can open this program file inthe Enhanced Editor, copy and paste the PROC IMPORTstatement and then simply replace the name of the tablein the SHEET =statement one by one with the names of

the tables you want to import.

13.Click Finish.

how to import an excel file into sas

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