Referencing Many External Files Efficiently

When you use many files from a single aggregate storage location, such as a directory or partitioned data set (PDS or MACLIB), you can use a single fileref, followed by a filename enclosed in parentheses, to access the individual files. This saves time by eliminating the need to type a long file storage location name repeatedly. It also makes changing the program easier later if you change the file storage location. The following table shows an example of assigning a fileref to an aggregate storage location:

Table 39.3: Referencing Many Files Efficiently

External File Task	Tool	Example
Assign a fileref to aggregate storage location.	FILENAME	filename mydir ' directory-or-PDS-name' ;
Specify the file that contains input data.	INFILE	data weight; infile mydir(qrt1.data); input idno $ week1 week16; loss=week1-week16;
Specify the file that the PUT statement writes to. [1]	FILE	file mydir(awards); if loss ge 5 then put idno loss 'AWARD STATUS=3'; else if loss ge 10 then put idno loss 'AWARD STATUS=2'; else if loss ge 15 then put idno loss 'AWARD STATUS=1'; run;
Bring statements or raw data from another file into your SAS job and execute them.	%INCLUDE	%include mydir(whole.program);
[1] SAS creates a file that is named with the appropriate extension for your operating environment.