Importing/exporting to XML file

I used to save metadata in SAS datasets so that I could check received data, or do something else. Usually, I save the metadata with data so that I don't create any new libname. But, other users may not want to see the metadata mixed with real data in SAS datasets.

I don't like to export metadata as a MS Excel sheet. MS Excel may change the original data, and some data structure information will be lost during PROC IMPORT/EXPORT. When the Excel sheet is imported back to SAS dataset, it could be significantly changed comparing to the original dataset.

I may also use plain text file, like CSV, ASCII files. It usually needs more customized codes.

One of solutions is using XML file. Below are the sample codes:

LIBNAME myxml XML "path\file_name.xml" XMLMETA=SCHEMADATA XMLTYPE=MSACCESS;

In the codes, XMLMETA=SCHEMADATA makes the XML file contain both metadata and data; XMLTYPE=MSACCESS is best XMLTYPE that will preserve the original data.

Using "PROC COMPARE" to compare the original dataset and dataset imported from XML file, the variables' attributes are almost identical, except format and informat. For data, I only found that datetime values are coverted to INT when datasets are exported to XML file by now. In most of cases, this works fine for me.