This document presents an alternative method for importing multiple Excel files with multiple worksheets into SAS datasets. The method uses VBScript to convert the Excel files to CSV format, unmerging cells and removing carriage returns. A SAS macro then processes the CSV files, importing the data with all variables in character format and maximum lengths to preserve precision. While it creates less user-friendly datasets than other methods, this dynamic process saves time by only requiring the input directory path.

1. Copyright © 2013 Quintiles
An Alternative way to
Import Multiple Excel
files with Multiple
Worksheets into SAS
Saurabh Patel
All opinions expressed in this presentation are the author’s personal views,
and may not reflect the opinions or views of Quintiles.

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We will see….
• What is it?
• Why really alternative method is require?
• How an alternative way will work?
• Example
• Benefits
• Drawbacks

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What is it?
• In the pharmaceutical industry often data transfers happen in Microsoft
excel formats files (like: XLS, XLSX or XLSM).
• It is an alternative way to import multiple excel files with multiple
worksheets into SAS datasets.
• Which allows users to import excel data easily without specifying file
name, worksheet name, variable length and format.
Input
VB Script Processing SAS Macro Processing
Output

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Why really alternative method is require?
When we have convention methods like:
• LIBNAME statement Excel engine
• Import Wizard
• PROC IMPORT
• DDE Method

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Three criteria can use for choosing the "Optimum" method :
Limitations of Regular process
1. Precision :
• Are we sure to read the input data properly? Automated SAS
procedures like PROC IMPORT or LIBNAME statement classify the
entire column as numeric data, which often loss of decimal precisions
or formats of values.
Excel Input File Imported SAS dataset using
LIBNAME statement

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Limitations of Regular process
2. Flexibility :
1. LIBNAME STATEMENT EXCEL ENGINE
• Offers more practical advantages over PROC IMPORT and DDE.
• It doesn't provide flexibility to define variables format, lengths.
• It doesn't works for file formats like .csv or delimited files.
2. Import wizards and PROC IMPORT
• It can use for both excel spreadsheet and delimited files.
• It can process only single spreadsheet at a time which is time
consuming and also doesn't provide flexibility to define variables
format, lengths.
3. DDE Method
• Offers more flexibility for define variable format, lengths.
• It always requires more input parameter like filename, worksheet
name, work sheet ranges and variable lengths.

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Limitations of Regular process
3. Automation :
• While handling multiple excel files with multiple worksheets, and
numerous data transfer most important criteria is to save
important time.
• All conventional methods requires minimal amount of input
parameter but it requires greater amount of attention regarding
worksheet names, worksheet ranges, variable formats, and
variable lengths.
• If the programmer first needs to save each Excel spreadsheet as
a CSV or TXT file, or run an import wizard, this is not automated.
Simply mean that everything should done within the single SAS
program.

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How an alternative way will work?
Input
VB Script Processing
1. VBScript Processing
Output

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• What is VBScript?
• VBScript (Visual Basic Scripting Edition) is an Active Scripting
language developed by Microsoft that is modeled on Visual Basic.
• How VBScript will be helpful here?
• VBScript is modeled on Visual Basic and Excel file system also
modeled on Visual Basic.
• It is helpful here two important way.
1. Convert multiple Excel Files with worksheets into different
.CSV or delimited text file format with just providing path
name or filename.
2. Unmerge cells into excel worksheets and fill duplicate
data into rest of cells. And remove carriage return
(Alt+Enter) values to get data into proper order.
1. VBScript Processing

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VB Script Code

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How an alternative way will work?
2. SAS Macro Processing
SAS Macro Processing
OutputInput

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2. SAS %CSV Macro Processing
1. Get the list of all CSV filenames in Input Directory to convert in
SAS dataset
2. Get the variable names from the first row of each CSV files
and coverts variable names into valid variable SAS names
3. Using INFILE statement and variable names import all data as
character format with maximum lengths.

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Example

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Benefits
• Dynamic process (just providing input directory path or filename) is
helpful to save time.
• Convert Multiple excel files into CSV , unmerging cells and removing
carriage return using VB script more convenient and user-friendly.
• Specifying all variables format as character and maximum length
helpful to easily find out difference in frequent data transfers.
• For QC purpose, provides better options to check getting data properly
with native format and values.

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Drawbacks
• It creates dataset with all variables as character format.
When numeric variables are more compare to character
variables, in that situation will not be more user friendly.
• It imports hidden worksheets data also, so programmer need to
define more input parameters to get import selected worksheets data.

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References
• An Optimal Way to Import Excel Worksheets into PC SAS
http://analytics.ncsu.edu/sesug/2008/SBC-134.pdf
• So, Your Data are in Excel!
http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/sugi31/020-31.pdf
• CSV: A MACRO WHICH WRITES SAS® PROGRAMS TO READ CSV FILES
http://www.lexjansen.com/nesug/nesug03/ps/ps019.pdf

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Contact: saurabh.patel@quintiles.com