Date:         Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:26:07 -0400
Reply-To:     Arthur Tabachneck <art297@NETSCAPE.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Arthur Tabachneck <art297@NETSCAPE.NET>
Subject:      Re: PROC IMPORT and GUESSINGROWS=
Comments: To: recif20002002@YAHOO.FR

The method I use is shown in the post at:
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0802b&L=sas-l&D=1&O=A&P=15595

Art
---------
On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:06:49 -0700, recif20002002@YAHOO.FR wrote:

>Hello everyone,
>I just started using SAS and after reading the Little SAS book I am
>finally getting my hands dirty.
>
>I am trying to import a 2003 excel file (255 columns) composed of a
>set of 254 stocks with weekly returns and the associated dates in the
>first column. At the top row column represent  stocks' names (254
>stocks, the first column is used for the date). It has blank rows for
>unavailable returns and weekly returns in number form when the data is
>available (altough specified as type : general in excel properties).
>
>I am currently having two issues with this import procedure:
>
>1. it misses the observations in the excel file
>2. it is not using the appropriate datatype (CHARACTER instead of
>NUMBER)
>
>stocks returns in the SAS data set (in the ensuing rows) are left
>blank except for stocks which have data available right at the
>beginning of the date range (most stocks start trading after this date
>therefore leaving a number of blank rows)
>
>I have tried changing the GUESSINGROWS property through regedit but
>the import statement still leave out tons of data. As I found out
>GUESSINGROWS only check for variable attributes and not the data
>itself.
>
>Furthermore, I am wondering why SAS is not recognizing the returns
>serie of each stock as number data type (for the stock which were
>correctly imported the format is BEST12.).
>
>I would really appreciate it if someone had any tips regarding those
>issues
>
>thank you