diff --git a/sasdata/ascii_reader_metadata.py b/sasdata/ascii_reader_metadata.py
index 8be986b..01930f6 100644
--- a/sasdata/ascii_reader_metadata.py
+++ b/sasdata/ascii_reader_metadata.py
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ class AsciiReaderMetadata:
     filename_separator: dict[str, str | bool] = field(default_factory=dict)
     master_metadata: dict[str, AsciiMetadataCategory[int]] = field(default_factory=default_categories)
 
+    def init_separator(self, filename: str):
+        separator = next(filter(lambda c: c in SEPARATOR_PRECEDENCE, filename), True)
+        self.filename_separator[filename] = separator
+
     def filename_components(self, filename: str, cut_off_extension: bool = True, capture: bool = False) -> list[str]:
         separator = self.filename_separator[filename]
         # FIXME: This sort of string construction may be an issue. Might need an alternative.