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This sample will create subdirectories "on the fly" by walking down the hierarchy and creating the subdirectory if it doesn’t exist. It also demonstrates iterating through a hash table. It is easily adaptable as a macro function.

   /******** BEGIN CODE ********/


   /* Set a couple of macro variables: Parent directory and fiscal year */
   %LET mreports = C:\temp\reports; * parent directory;
   %LET mfy = 2008;                 * fiscal year;

   DATA _null_;

        /* Set the length of  character variables */
	LENGTH d dir $ 80 fsep $ 1;

        /* fsep is character to separate directories */
	RETAIN fsep "\";

        /* Create the full path name (uses v.9 catx() function) something like: c:\temp\reports\09jan2007\FY_2008 */
	d = Catx(fsep,"&mreports",Put(Today(),DATE9.), Catt('FY_',"&mfy"));

        /* _n_ not necessary here, but... */
	IF _n_ EQ 1 THEN DO; * define path hash table ;

                /* Declare the hash table, Declare the iteratator */
		DECLARE hash hdir(hashexp: 3, ordered:"yes");
		DECLARE hiter idir('hdir');

           /* Define the key, p variable*/ 
	   rc = hdir.defineKey('p');

           /* Define the data, dir variable and Define Done */
	   rc = hdir.defineData('dir');
	   rc = hdir.defineDone();

                /* Avoid annoying log messages */
		CALL missing(p,dir);
	END;



        /* Initialize the end of folder pointer, l */
	len = Length(d);

        /* Now break each folder (dir) into the hash table */
	DO UNTIL(len LE 0); * parse the path, put in hash table;

                /* Find next deepest folder (-l starts at end and searches forward) */
		p = Find(d,fsep,"it", -len) ;

                /* Set dir to what’s between the two fsep (“\”) */
		dir = Substr(d, IfN(p=0, 1,p+1), len-p);

                /* If the pointers at the start set the parent, */
		IF p = 0 THEN par = dir;

                /* Otherwise add the folder to the hash table */
		ELSE rc = hdir.add(key: p, data: dir);

                /* And decrement for next folder */
		len = p-1;
	END;



        /* Fird the first folder */
	rc = idir.first();

      	DO WHILE(rc=0);

                /* Try to create it using DCreate() */
		newdir = Trimn(dcreate(dir, par));

                /* If it already exists (newdir is blank), set it yourself */
		IF newdir = " " THEN newDir = Catx('\',par,dir);

                /* Set parent to the new directory */
		par = newdir;

		/* And go again */
                rc = idir.next();

        /* And done. */
	END;

   RUN;


   /******** END CODE ********/

Reference Documentation:

• http://support.sas.com/onlinedoc/913/getDoc/en/lrdict.hlp/a002588142.htm
• http://support.sas.com/onlinedoc/913/getDoc/en/lrcon.hlp/a002586295.htm
• http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/sugi31/241-31.pdf
  

Links for the new functions:

• FIND Function - support.sas.com/onlinedoc/913/getDoc/en/lrdict.hlp/a002267763.htm
• IFN Function - support.sas.com/onlinedoc/913/getDoc/en/lrdict.hlp/a002604573.htm
• CATT Function - support.sas.com/onlinedoc/913/getDoc/en/lrdict.hlp/a002257057.htm
• TRIMN Function - support.sas.com/onlinedoc/913/getDoc/en/lrdict.hlp/a000212475.htm
• CATX Function - support.sas.com/onlinedoc/913/getDoc/en/lrdict.hlp/a002257076.htm

About the Author
Richard Wright began writing SAS code over 25 years ago keying code and data on punch cards as a student at University of Oregon. Since then he has worked at various agencies for the state of Texas. He is certified in Base and Advanced SAS.

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