SAS_PACKAGES - a SAS Packages Framework

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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 the SAS Packages Framework which allows to develop and use SAS packages.

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Current version:

The latest version of SPF is 20221121.

To get started with SAS Packages try this Getting Started with SAS Packages presentation (see the ./SPF/Documentation directory).

The documentation and more advance reading would be the SAS(r) packages - the way to share (a how to)- Paper 4725-2020 - extended.pdf article (see the ./SPF/Documentation directory).

Short description of the SAS Packages Framework macros can be found here

Recordings and Presentations:

Videos presenting the SPF and packages, from various conferences and meetups (the newer the better):

• "SAS Packages: The Way to Share" - SAS Global Forum 2020 V.E. (April 2020, ~20 minutes, general overview but with a bit obsolete technical details)
• "SAS Packages: The Way to Share" - SaSensei International Dojo No. 1 (April 2020, ~28 minutes, general overview but with a bit obsolete technical details)
• "Co nowego z pakietami SAS?" - SAS dla Administratorów i Praktyków 2020 (October 2020, in Polish, ~41 minutes, general overview and technical details how to use SPF)
• "SAS Packages - The Way to Share" - Boston Area SAS Users Group webinar (November 2020, ~59 minutes, general overview and technical details how to use SPF)
• "My First SAS Package: A How-To" - SAS Global Forum 2021 V.E. (May 20th 2021, ~59 minutes, technical workshop on how to create a package)
• "Kod SASowy ukryty na widoku" - SAS dla Administratorów i Praktyków 2021 (November 24th 2021, in Polish, ~34 minutes, technical presentation with details about the GSM package)
• "A BasePlus Package for SAS" - SAS Explore 2022 (September 27th-29th 2022, ~28 minutes, technical presentation with details about the BasePlus package), alternative video at YouTube is here
• "SAS Packages - State of the Union" - SaSensei International Dojo No. 13 (November 10th 2022, ~50 minutes, general overview with the latest technical details)

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Initiative to add SAS Packages Framework to SAS Base/Viya:

A SASware Ballot Idea for adding SAS Packages Framework macros into Base SAS and Viya was submitted Friday, May 27th 2022. If you would like to support the idea visit this communities.sas.com post and up vote the idea!

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The User:

The first step to use a package with the SAS Packages Framework:

• 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.

and then either:

• Manually download the SPFinit.sas file (the SAS Packages Framework) into the local packages folder.
• [Optional] Manually download the <packageName>.zip file into the local packages folder.
• and Execute:

filename packages "<directory/containing/packages/>";         /* setup directory for packages */
%include packages(SPFinit.sas);                               /* enable the framework */

/* %installPackage(packageName) */                            /* install the package, unless you downloaded it manually */

%helpPackage(packageName)                                     /* get help about the package */
%loadPackage(packageName)                                     /* load the package content into the SAS session */

or if you need it just for "one time" only:

• Execute:

filename packages "%sysfunc(pathname(work))"; /* setup WORK as temporary directory for packages */
filename SPFinit url "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/yabwon/SAS_PACKAGES/main/SPF/SPFinit.sas";
%include SPFinit; /* enable the framework */

%installPackage(packageName) /* install a package */
%helpPackage(packageName)    /* get help about the package */
%loadPackage(packageName)    /* load the package content into the SAS session */

or do it pragmatically:

• Enable the framework [first time only]:

filename SPFinit url "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/yabwon/SAS_PACKAGES/main/SPF/SPFinit.sas";
%include SPFinit; /* enable the framework */

• Install the framework on your machine in the folder you created:

filename packages "<directory/containing/packages/>"; 
%installPackage(SPFinit) /* install the framework */

• And from now on run it like this:

filename packages "<directory/containing/packages/>";
%include packages(SPFinit.sas);

%installPackage(packageName) /* install a package */
%helpPackage(packageName)    /* get help about the package */
%loadPackage(packageName)    /* load the package content into the SAS session */

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Workshop video for the User [May 6th, 2020] [~86 minutes, a bit outdated (installPackage macro was not there yet) but gives the idea how it works especially load, help, unload, ICEload, and other details]

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The Developer:

To create your own package:

• Download (and use) the SPFinit.sas file (the SAS Packages Framework), the part of the framework required for testing is there too.

• See this "Hello World" example tutorial.

• Read the SAS Packages - The Way to Share (a How-To) - Paper 4725-2020 - extended version article to learn more details.

• Read the My First SAS Package: A How-To - Paper 1079-2021 article available at communities.sas.com here or locally here

The SAS Packages Framework (short) documetation to quickly see macros options and parametera.

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

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Updates worth mentioning:

Update[November 21st, 2022]: %loadPackage() macro allows Cherry Picking of content (see here).

Update[September 30th, 2022]: New dedicated repository: SASPAC - the SAS Packages Archive is available as new location for packages storage. Location of SASPAC is: https://github.com/SASPAC

Update[November 11th, 2021]: %extendPackagesFileref() macro is available.

Update[October 15th, 2020]: %previewPackage() macro is available.

Update[September 11th, 2020]: %loadPackageS() and %verifyPackage() macros are available.

Update[July 30th, 2020]: All components of SAS Packages Framework are now in one file SPFinit.sas (located in the ./SPF directory). Documentation moved to ./SPF/Documentation directory. Packages zip files moved to ./packages directory.

Update[June 10th, 2020]: To see help info about framework macros and their parameters just run: %generatePackage(), %installPackage(), %helpPackage(), %loadPackage(), and %unloadPackage() with empty parameter list.

Update[June 3rd, 2020]: %installPackage() macro is available. The %installPackage() macro is embedded in the loadpackage.sas part of the framework.

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Where the SAS Packages Framework is used:

This is a list of locations where the SAS Packages Framework is used:

• Warsaw (Poland)

If you want to share that you are using the SPF let me know and I'll update the list.

If you find the SPF useful share info about it or give it a star so more people will know.

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Available packages:

(!) For "backward compatibility"/historical point of view the following packages are available under the ./packages directory.

(!) Since September 2022 the default location for packages is SASPAC - the SAS Packages Archive located under: https://github.com/SASPAC where each package is stored as a separate repository with historical versions too.

Packages:

• SQLinDS[2.2.2], 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 data step, e.g.

  data class;
    set %SQL(select * from sashelp.class order by age);
  run;

SHA256 digest for SQLinDS: 085F0B8BD4A59343E2913FF9635EA6E551ADD54E9678C35F5096D4A0A895B9C5

Documentation for SQLinDS

• MacroCore[1], a macro library for SAS application developers. Over 100 macros for Base SAS, metadata, and Viya. Provided by the SASjs framework.

SHA256 digest for MacroCore: A23C29529F3CE7D0C8BEE9545C5D22D5B5594907547374A5135B8E5A48D7687B

Documentation for MacroCore

• DFA (Dynamic Function Arrays)[0.5.2], 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.

SHA256 digest for DFA: 3F618EDAC8B4F4BE6C19D606E6BCC58121A16BA1383D2EE64C680B4B7FA9C96A

Documentation for DFA

• macroArray[1.0.2], implementation of an array concept in a macrolanguage, e.g.

  %array(ABC[17] (111:127), macarray=Y); 
  
  %macro test();
    %do i = 1 %to 17; 
      %put &i.) %ABC(&i.); 
    %end;
  %mend;
  %test() 
  
  %let %ABC(13,i) = 99999; /* i = insert */

  %do_over(ABC, phrase=%nrstr( 
      %put &_i_.%) %ABC(&_i_.); 
      ),
      which = 1:H:2
  );

SHA256 digest for macroArray: DA57FFE85F49201FD61A53411D19E97FB5A6AC3C34E34FDF4B913545699551FF

Documentation for macroArray

• BasePlus[1.17.2] adds a bunch of functionalities I am missing in BASE SAS, such as:

call arrMissToRight(myArray); 
call arrFillMiss(17, myArray); 
call arrFill(42, myArray); 

rc = delDataset("DataSetToDrop"); 

string = catXFn("date9.", "#", myArray);

format x bool.;

%put %getVars(sashelp.class, pattern = ght$, sep = +, varRange = _numeric_);

%rainCloudPlot(sashelp.cars,DriveTrain,Invoice)

%zipLibrary(sashelp,libOut=work)

SHA256 digest for BasePlus: EBA9EDB3D50D854288970CC0E965DA6AD5B057F6E6433EEBEC4A02B9A25CF6E2

Documentation for BasePlus

• GSM (Generate Secure Macros)[0.20.2], package allows to create secured macros stored in SAS Proc FCMP functions. The dataset with functions can be shared between different operating systems and allows to generate macros on site without showing their code.

SHA256 digest for GSM: E47C94B536B661DEE390F5C3EA1684DD1A246106F4FBBDAFA57F5E34D4BB16D5

Documentation for GSM

• dynMacroArray[0.2.2], set of macros (wrappers for a hash table) emulating dynamic array in the data step (macro predecessor of DFA). Development of this package is currently on hold.

SHA256 digest for dynMacroArray: DD0BF1768DA05EBB5F8C6E7409A0929E28DF11CB499F75B433D9648855AACAE4

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