Andrew,

I just built an application that uses SAS and Access. The way that I handle it is to use the OleDB client from SAS to read the SAS datasets (this is a free utility) and then have a .NET application run the Access programs for me. This is simple in the C# world:

conn.ConnectionString = @"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data source=" + physicalDatabaseLocation + ";" ;

OleDbDataAdapter da = new OleDbDataAdapter(query,conn) ;

...where query is a string that you pass to Access.

An alternative way is to use OleDB again but from the Access macro side. SAS datasets can be read using OleDB in a similar manner. I do not use this method since it means using VBA which is on its way out.

If you code a c# program then it can be compiled into a *.exe. Then it is a simple matter to invoke it using the X command in SAS and pass it parms:

x "myprogram.exe -r -s -whatever" ;

Alan

Alan Churchill Savian "Bridging SAS and Microsoft Technologies" www.savian.net

-----Original Message----- From: SAS(r) Discussion [mailto:SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Andrew Howell Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 4:07 PM To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: Can SAS invoke Access macros?

Customer: - PC SAS v9.1.3 - SAS/Access to ODBC - SAS/Access to PCFF - Does NOT have SAS/Access to OLEDB

I can create & update Access tables ok from SAS, using pass-thru SQL and sql execute procs from within SAS, but I need Access to do a few other things as well - create/delete relationships, modify data types, compact and backup database prior to import, etc.

1. Can such tasks be performed/invoked from SAS? I presume not. 2. If I have set up some macros within the Access database to perform these tasks, is there a way I can invoke the Access macros from my SAS code?

Thanks.

------------------------------------------------------------ This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au