filename statement creates a fileref. FILENAME fileref <device-type> '/path/to/external/file.dat' <host-options>;
/*
Assign fileref tq84_fr to an external file.
Note: Maximum length of fileref is eight characters (bytes).
Longer filerefs throw
ERROR: Invalid logical name
*/
filename tq84_fr 'S:\Atrans\SASCC\tq84\numbers.dat';
data tq84_ext_file;
infile tq84_fr;
/* Read line for line */
input;
/* Assign each line to variable line: */
line = _infile_;
run;
proc print data = tq84_ext_file;
run;