Date:         Fri, 3 Sep 1999 08:28:26 -0400
Reply-To:     bramley.m@PG.COM
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         bramley.m@PG.COM
Subject:      SAS-L Archives
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Does anyone have the blurb on accessing the archives for this list or an address
where I can get the blurb?

TIA,

Michael Bramley

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From: Hockey Richard <rhockey@mater.org.au> on 09/02/99 01:59 AM

Please respond to Hockey Richard <rhockey@mater.org.au>


To:   sas-l@listserv.uga.edu
cc:    (bcc: Michael Bramley-M/PGI)
Subject:  Importing Excel files into SAS




Hi
I just found atech note on the SAS site which solves some of the problems I
have had importing Excel data into SAS, particularly when I have mixed data
in a field.
It is at :
http://www.sas.com/service/techsup/unotes/V6/D/D947.html
There is also an addon to import excel97 files but I wouldn't recommend it.
It is sooo sloww!!!
RH

Here is the contents of the tech note:

SAS/ACCESS reads date fields in as character if first created as text

If you are reading in an Excel spreadsheet that contains date fields which
were originally created as text fields, SAS/ACCESS to
PC File Formats will read the field in as character.

  If you create an excel text field that contains dates, then you use

  FORMAT-->CELLS to change the field to a date (mmddyy) field, excel

  does not change the internal storage of the data.  It is still

  being stored as character (text) data, but is being displayed as a

  date type. Excel is failing to convert the value to a date (numeric).

  Therefore when the field it read into SAS it becomes a character      '

  variable.

  To circumvent this problem you must force Excel to change the storage

  of the field by doing the following within Excel:


      Choose DATA --> Text to Columns


      Select Fixed Width, then click NEXT button 2 times


      In upper right corner of window select Date as the Column Data Format


     This will actually change the field to a date field, thus allowing SAS
to read it in as expected.
Richard Hockey        email: mailto:rhockey@mater.org.au
Senior Data Analyst                               Phone:+61 7 3840 1587
Queensland Council on Obstetric              Fax:+61 7 3840 1588
and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity
Mater Hospital
South Brisbane , QLD 4101
Australia                          URL: http://www.uq.net.au/qcopmm/

 <<Richard L Hockey.vcf>>