# SAS_PACKAGES - a SAS Packages Repository

### The User:
To use a package:
- Create a folder for your packages, under Windows OS family, e.g. `C:/SAS_PACKAGES` or under Linux/UNIX OS family, e.g. `/home/<username>/SAS_PACKAGES`.
- Download the `loadpackage.sas` file into the packages folder.
- Download the `<packageName>.zip` file into the packages folder.
- Execute:
```
filename packages "<directory/containing/packages/>";
%include packages(loadpackage.sas);
%helpPackage(packageName) /* to get help about package */
%loadPackage(packageName) /* to load package content */
```
### The Developer:
To create your own package:
- Read the `SAS(r) packages - the way to share (a how to)- Paper 4725-2020.pdf` to learn more.

### Available packages:
Currently the following packages are available:

- **SQLinDS**, based on Mike Rhoads' article *Use the Full Power of SAS in Your Function-Style Macros*. The package allows to write SQL queries in the datastep, e.g.
```
data class;
  set %SQL(select * from sashelp.class ordered by age);
run;
```
- **DFA** (Dynamic Function Arrays), contains set of macros and FCMP functions which implement: a dynamically allocated array, a stack, a fifo queue, an ordered stack, and a priority queue, run `%helpPackage(DFA,createDFArray)` to find examples.
- **macroArray**, implementation of an array concept in a macrolanguage, e.g. 
```
  %array(ABC[17] (111:127), macarray=Y); 

  %do i = 1 %to 17; 
    %put &i.) %ABC(&i.); 
  %end;

  %let %ABC(13,M=i) = 999;

  %do i = 1 %to 17; 
    %put &i.) %ABC(&i.); 
  %end;
```
- **dynMacroArray**, set of macros (wrappers for a hash table) emulating dynamic array in the datastep (macro predecessor of DFA)

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