Get working hyperlinks in displayed ODS HTML5 output

[jbodart-argenx]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe. I'm always frustrated when I generate an ODS HTML output containing hyperlinks to local files, that is automatically rendered in VScode, as for some reason clicking the hyperlinks does nothing, while I was hoping it would open the hyperlinked file.

Describe the solution you'd like I would like the hyperlinked file to open either in VScode preferably or alternatively in the default application for that file type

Describe alternatives you've considered Alternatively, a way to open the ODS HTML5 output file in an external browser window (in which the hyperlinks would work)

Environment SAS version 9.4 (local - DOM) on windows 10 desktop

[scottdover]

Hey @jbodart-argenx. Would there be a way to provide a sample of what might produce this kind of output?

[jbodart-argenx]

I will provide some sample code

[jbodart-argenx]

Here is the sample code. I saved it to my home folder and ran it in VScode SAS extension.

%global home pdffref txtfref;

%*- determine a home output folder -*;
%if %sysfunc(symexist(HOME)) %then %do;
   %let home = %sysfunc(sysget(HOME));
%end;
%if %length(%superq(home))=0 or %sysfunc(fileexist(%superq(home)))=0 and %sysfunc(symexist(HOMEPATH)) %then %do;
   %let home = %sysfunc(sysget(HOMEPATH));
%end;
%if %length(%superq(home))=0 or %sysfunc(fileexist(%superq(home)))=0 and %sysfunc(symexist(USERPROFILE)) %then %do;
   %let home = %sysfunc(sysget(USERPROFILE));
%end;
%if %length(%superq(home))=0 or %sysfunc(fileexist(%superq(home)))=0 %then %do;
   %let home = %sysfunc(pathname(sasuser));
%end;

%put &=home;

%*- generate txt and pdf files in that folder -*;
%let pdffref = ;
%let txtfref = ;
%let rc = %sysfunc(filename(pdffref, &home./sample_males.pdf));
%put &=rc &=pdffref : %sysfunc(pathname(&pdffref, F));
%let rc = %sysfunc(filename(txtfref, &home./sample_males.txt));
%put &=rc &=txtfref :  %sysfunc(pathname(&txtfref, F));

ods pdf file = &pdffref;
ods listing file = &txtfref;

title "Sample of Male students";
proc print data=sashelp.class;
   where sex="M";
run;
ods pdf close;
ods listing close;

%let pdffref = ;
%let txtfref = ;
%let rc = %sysfunc(filename(pdffref, &home./sample_females.pdf));
%let rc = %sysfunc(filename(txtfref, &home./sample_females.txt));

ods pdf file = &pdffref;
ods listing file = &txtfref;

title "Sample of Female students";
proc print data=sashelp.class;
   where sex="F";
run;

ods pdf close;
ods listing close;

%*- generate ods html5 (default destination) output with links to generated files (not working in VScode 'Result' view) -*;

title "External files created";
proc sql print;
   select distinct xpath, xengine, cats('<a href="file:///', tranwrd(cats(xpath), ' ', '%20'),'" >link</a>') as link 
      from sashelp.vextfl
      where xengine not in ('TEMP') and scan(xpath, -1, '.') in ('txt' 'pdf' 'html' 'htm')
      order by xpath
      ;
quit;

*- create links in VScode output pane to the same files (these should be working) -*;
data _null_;
   set sashelp.vextfl;
   where xengine not in ('TEMP') and scan(xpath, -1, '.') in ('txt' 'pdf' 'html' 'htm');
   xpath = cats('<a href="file:///', tranwrd(cats(xpath), ' ', '%20'),'" >link</a>');
   put xpath;
run;

The Result looks like this: Clicking the hyperlinks in column 'link' of the bottom output displayed in VScode has no effect. But when I open the same html file in a browser, clicking on any of the links opens the corresponding target file. (Note: the link to the html file points to itself, but can be shown by right click -> open link in new tab)

[scnwwu]

Currently, if you run it in SAS Notebook, the link can be opened within VS Code.

[jbodart-argenx]

Thanks, using SAS Notebook might be a workaround, but:

• I can't convert most of my programs to SAS Notebooks
• Why would that work only with SAS Notebook ?

[snlwih]

When running SAS code that prints a column in a table containing HTML anchors I see the following behaviour in SAS Studio (SAS Viya):

1. HTML anchors containing href='file:///...' do not seem to work.
   • Using "Open link in new tab" results in a generated URL of "about:blank#blocked"
   • Using "Copy link address" and then manually pasting it in the address-bar of another tab in the browser works absolutely fine.
     2. HTML anchors containing href='https://some.website.com...' seem to work fine. They open a new tab in the browser

When using the same SAS code in a .sas file opened in the SAS Extension and using a Viya connection (REST) I see same/similar behaviour.

• Clicking on links that have a href='https://...' open a new tab in the default web browser.
• Clicking on links with href='file:///...' doesn't do anythining.

When pasting the SAS code in a cell in a SAS notebook, both link types work and open results tab with the contents of the files on the local file system as long as the link points to a file. When the link points to a folder VSCode shows a warning panel with an "Open Folder" button.

Have some extremely simple SAS code attached. (had to add a .txt extension as it didn't allow me to upload a .sas file as an attachment) SAS-ODS-output-containing-HTML-Anchor-tag.sas.txt