SUPPORT / SAMPLES & SAS NOTES
Problem Note 43862: Blank column names in a Microsoft Excel file might cause "Illegal variable name" errors
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When you import an Excel file with the XLSX engine, you might receive an error. For example, suppose you submit the following IMPORT procedure:
proc import datafile="c:\sastest\testdata.xlsx"
out=sasdatab
dbms=xlsx replace;
run;
This procedure generates the following error:
ERROR: The variable name is illegal for file WORK.SASDATAB.DATA. NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors.
The problem occurs when the Excel file contains blank column names. In this situation, the file fails to import and it is locked until the SAS® session ends.
To circumvent the problem, add a column name to the header row of the Excel file.
Operating System and Release Information
| Product Family | Product | System | Product Release | SAS Release | ||
| Reported | Fixed* | Reported | Fixed* | |||
| SAS System | SAS/ACCESS Interface to PC Files | Microsoft® Windows® for x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2008 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Microsoft Windows XP Professional | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Windows 7 Enterprise 32 bit | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | ||||
| Windows 7 Enterprise x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | ||||
| Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | ||||
| Windows 7 Home Premium x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | ||||
| Windows 7 Professional 32 bit | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | ||||
| Windows 7 Professional x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | ||||
| Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | ||||
| Windows 7 Ultimate x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | ||||
| Windows Vista | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Windows Vista for x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| 64-bit Enabled AIX | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| 64-bit Enabled HP-UX | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| 64-bit Enabled Solaris | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| HP-UX IPF | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Linux | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Linux for x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||
| Solaris for x64 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 TS1M0 | 9.4 TS1M0 | ||