Limitations and Restrictions for Importing Local Data Files :: SAS(R) Visual Analytics 7.3: User's Guide

Large Data Files

When you import data files (spreadsheets, SAS data sets, or delimited text files) from your desktop, you are limited to files that are 4 GB or less. This constraint is set by the web browser. Because importing large data files through the web browser impacts overall performance and because you can experience long wait times, alternate approaches are recommended for importing large files.

Note: Administrators can specify a limit that is less than 4 GB.

As an alternative to importing data files through your web browser, you can use autoload. You can autoload data from files that are larger than 4 GB. In general, FTP and network file systems transfer data files faster than web browsers.

Another alternative for importing a large data file is to compress it and import it as a ZIP file. You can use this option to import comma-separated values (CSV) text files only. To use this option, compress the file that you want to import, and then click Text Files in the Import Data window. Here are some key points about importing ZIP files:

Make sure that the ZIP file contains only one file. If the ZIP file contains more than one file, then only the first file is imported.
A ZIP file must contain only comma-separated values (CSV) files. Other file formats are not supported.
A CSV file must have the file extension .csv. Other file extensions are not supported.

Importing Data from Spreadsheets

The following list identifies considerations for importing data from spreadsheets:

You can import Excel workbook (XLSX, XLSM, and XLSB) files and Excel 97-2003 workbook (XLS) files. You cannot import XLST or other Excel file types.

Here are some key points about importing XLSB files:
- The machine for the SAS Workspace Server must have the following provider software installed: Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) and Microsoft Jet (Joint Engine Technology) or Microsoft Access Database Engine (formerly know as Microsoft Access Connectivity Engine or ACE) for 2007 and later.
- The bit version of Microsoft Access Database Engine must be the same as the bit version of SAS.
- You can import XLSB files only if the SAS Workspace Server is running on Microsoft Windows.
Tip
If your spreadsheet is from an unsupported Excel file type, then try saving it as an XLSX file before importing it.
When you import a spreadsheet (from your PC) that has multiple worksheets, by default, all of the worksheets are imported. A table is created for each worksheet. You can clear the check boxes for the worksheets that you do not want to import.
Importing pivot tables is not supported.

Table Names, Column Names, and Special Characters

In general, you can import files that use blanks and special characters in the filenames and column names. The following list identifies how table names are handled:

For text files (such as CSV files), the table name is initially set from the filename.
When you import a spreadsheet, table names are handled as follows:
- If the spreadsheet contains a single worksheet, then the table name is initially set from the filename.
- If the spreadsheet contains multiple worksheets, then each table name (for each worksheet) is initially set as a combination of the filename, an underscore, and the name of the worksheet.
Some special characters can be used, including spaces. Unsupported special characters include / \ * ? " < > | : - and period (.). After the initial table name is determined, any unsupported special character in the name is replaced with an underscore.
Table names are shortened to 32 characters because that is the table name length that is supported by SAS. The entire name appears as the label.

If you clear the Includes column names check box or the First row contains column names check box, then the column names are generated for you as follows:

Spreadsheets Column names are assigned A, B, C, and so on.
Text files Column names are assigned VAR1, VAR2, and so on.

The following table identifies how a column name that begins with a number, such as 2014sales, or that uses numbers only, such as 2014, will appear after being imported:

Source File Column Name	Imported Column Name
`2014sales`	`_2014sales` for Microsoft Excel files and text files.
`2014`	`_2014` for XLSX, XLSM, XLSB, and text files. For Excel 97-2003 workbook (XLS) files, a letter such as `A`, `B`, `C`, and so on, is substituted for the column name, depending on the column position in the file.