Coding in the fast lane with data-driven macro calls

Jim Simon
Jim Simon|March 11, 2013

The simple PRINT macro below prints a selected dataset: %macro print(data=&syslast,obs=5); proc print data=&data(obs=&obs); title "%upcase(&data)"; run; %mend print; Suppose you want to print every dataset in the library.  Would you enjoy typing a macro call for every dataset in the library? Only if you enjoy coding in the slow [...]

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Time to trade in your jalopy macro?

Jim Simon
Jim Simon|February 11, 2013

Suppose you have an old jalopy that’s perfectly reliable.  Your jalopy gets you where you wanna go: no frills; no drama. Do you trade your old wheels in for a racecar that accelerates like crazy and corners like it’s on rails? Or stick with what’s old and comfortable?   Your choice [...]

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Don’t let your macros crash and burn

Jim Simon
Jim Simon|December 4, 2012

Your macro just crashed and burned.  So, what’s the problem?  Let’s take a look: The text OR in the code above was misinterpreted as a logical operator.  To correct this issue, use the %STR function to protect (disable the normal meaning of) special characters and mnemonics in constant text: The [...]

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Macro programmers: watch out for the Dead Man's Curve!

Jim Simon
Jim Simon|October 22, 2012

In my previous blog post, I mentioned that I love the power of the SAS macro language and the power of my yellow Corvette. Now, I want to tell you how to avoid a major pitfall along the “macro programming road.” At the risk of dating myself, you may recall [...]

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The SAS Macro Language: Powerful as a Corvette!

Jim Simon
Jim Simon|September 27, 2012

I love the power of my Corvette and the power of the SAS macro language.  That is why, for the past 12 months, when not driving my Corvette, I put my heart and soul into the challenging task of updating our SAS Macro Language 2 course, soliciting input from my [...]

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A time-saving coding tip: leverage the SAS macro facility

Jim Simon
Jim Simon|February 28, 2012

Hi!  My name is Jim.  I’m a SAS instructor based in Irvine, CA.  I spend a lot of time each year teaching students in CA and across the United States how to program in SAS and how to master the SAS macro facility. In case you haven’t taken one of our  SAS [...]

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Tracing calling programs for %INCLUDE

Miss SAS Answers
Miss SAS Answers|August 17, 2011

Dear Miss SAS Answers, I run a lot of programs that call other programs with %include. I was wondering if there was a way, perhaps through a SAS Automatic Macro variable, to determine 1) whether a program was called or “included” from another program? And if so, what is the [...]

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