When exporting to XLSX format via the Export menu in SAS Enterprise Guide 8.5, the first string might be missing.

Cause

When you export a data set that contains strings such as a_x1234@ by selecting the .xlsx file extension from the Export menu, the data appears as _x1234@ when opened in Excel.

 

If the trailing special character matches one of the following patterns, the leading ‘A’ is omitted:

“A_x1234@”, “A_x1234?”, “A_x1234\”, “A_x1234*” “A_x1234=”

“A_x1234<”, “A_x1234>”, “A_x1234}”, “A_x1234[”, “A_x1234+”

 

If the trailing special character matches one of the following patterns, the leading “A” is not omitted.

“A_x1234_”, “A_x1234-”“A_x1234a”

Workarounds

Method 1

Add the ExportXlsxPreserveSpaces option within the <configuration> tags in the SEGuide.exe.config file.  

This file is located in the root installation directory of SAS Enterprise Guide (the default path is C:\Program Files\SASHome\SASEnterpriseGuide\8\).

Before you make any changes, create a backup of the SEGuide.exe.config file:

  <appSettings>
   <add key=" ExportXlsxPreserveSpaces" value="true "/>
 </appSettings>

Method 2

Send to Microsoft Excel and save the file manually: Share > Send to Microsoft Excel

Method 3

Export to CSV.