SAS_PACKAGES - a SAS Packages Repository

Intro:

A SAS package is an automatically generated, single, stand alone zip file containing organised and ordered code structures, created by the developer and extended with additional automatically generated "driving" files (i.e. description, metadata, load, unload, and help files).

The purpose of a package is to be a simple, and easy to access, code sharing medium, which will allow: on the one hand, to separate the code complex dependencies created by the developer from the user experience with the final product and, on the other hand, reduce developer's and user's unnecessary frustration related to a remote deployment process.

In this repository we are presenting a standalone Base SAS framework which allows to develop and use SAS packages.

General overview video:

• SAS Global Forum 2020 V.E.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCkb-bx0Dv8&t=0s
• Sasensei Internationa Dojo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFhdUBQgjYQ&t=0s

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 (user part of the framework) 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 */

Workshop video for User: https://youtu.be/qX_-HJ76g8Y

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.
• Download and use the generatePackage.sas file (developer part of the framework) and the loadpackage.sas file (required for testing).

If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas do not hesitate to contact me!

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 order 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,i) = 999; /* i = insert */

  %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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