SAS® Macro Language 1: Essentials

Experienced SAS programmers who are familiar with simple SQL queries and well-versed in DATA step processing and who want to write reusable, dynamic programs and automate repetitive processing in SAS

• Perform text substitution in SAS code
• Use macro variables and macro functions
• Automate and customize the production of SAS code
• Conditionally or iteratively construct SAS code
• Write self-modifying, data-driven programs

Before attending this course, you should have knowledge equivalent to having completed the SAS Programming 1: Essentials and SAS Programming 2: Data Manipulation Techniques courses. Specifically, you should be able to do the following:

• Write simple SQL queries using the SELECT statement.
• Read from and write to SAS tables using a DATA step.
• Use DATA step programming statements, including IF-THEN/ELSE, DO WHILE, DO UNTIL, and iterative DO.
• Use SAS data set options, including DROP=, KEEP=, and OBS=.
• Use character functions, including SUBSTR, SCAN, and UPCASE.
• Read subsets from tables using the WHERE statement.
• Create and use SAS date values and constants.
• Use Base SAS procedures such as SORT, PRINT, CONTENTS, MEANS, and FREQ.

Introduction

• Why SAS macro?
• Setting up for this course

SAS Macro Facility

• Program flow
• Creating and using macro variables

Storing and Processing Text

• Macro functions
• Using SQL to create macro variables
• Using the DATA step to create macro variables
• Indirect references to macro variables

Working with Macro Programs

• Defining and calling a macro
• Macro variable scope
• Conditional processing
• Iterative processing

Developing Macro Applications

• Storing macros
• Generating data-dependent code
• Validating parameters and documenting macros