Share your code with SAS Packages
a Hands-on-Workshop

by Bartosz Jabłoński

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Introduction note

This repository contains all workshop materials required for the Hands-on-workshop: Share your code with SAS Packages.

To be ready to learn read about Technical requirements for the workshop.

Don't forget to STAR (:star:) the repository! :-)

To start the HoW open the Share your code with SAS Packages - a Hands-on-Workshop.md file. It will guide you itself.

The tutorial contains interactive elements (links) so the .md file reads the best in GitHub (or any other tool interpreting markdown files). For your convenience also a .pdf copy is provided.

To get training materials simply clone this repository or see the instruction.

Should you have any questions or something is unclear do not hesitate contact the author.

Materials were used during: WUSS 2023 conference (San Diego, Oct. 31st to Nov. 2nd 2023.).

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Check out the SAS Packages Framework (SPF) and the SAS Packages Repository (SASPAC).

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Technical Requirements

The workshop assumes that you have available the following resources:

• a computer with internet access,
• a SAS session (may be local or remote), the interface can be: SAS DMS, SAS EG, or SAS Studio, can be SAS 9.4 or Viya with SPRE
• the SAS session has:
  • direct internet access or
  • you are able to upload files to the computer hosting your session,
  • (nice to have but not required) the SAS session has XCMD option enabled.

Additionally, we assume that you wrote at least a few of those: a macro, a function (fcmp, proto, or casl), a format or informat, or an IML module. The more the better.

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Why SAS Packages and the Framework?

Here you can find the list of reasons why using SAS Packages and SPF is a good idea. If you have any new suggestions share! :-)

SAS Packages - advantages

• SAS Packages allow you to extend SAS capabilities by referencing reusable, centrally maintained code.

• Not only macros! You can use different "types" like: user functions (FCMP and CASL), IML modules, proc proto C routines, formats, libraries, PROC DS2 threads or packages, and even data generating code in a package.

• Automatic update of the cmplib= and the fmtsearch= options for functions and formats. Utility macros for IML modules and CAS-L user defined functions for fast loading (with dependency checks).

• Loading order of the code is organised the way you (developer) want it to be.

• It is all in 1 (one) file - you won't forget to share "all that is needed" with your peers.

• Functionality over complexity - share one file and say, e.g. "Here is my package with the %ABC() macro, you use the macro like this and that..." and you don't have to say that there are 73 other utility macros working in the "background".

• A package contains additional metadata (e.g., version number or generation timestamp) which supports DevOps approach.

• Help information is printed automatically in the log.

• A package can be loaded into the SAS session even if you don't have access to the SPF macros (ICE-loading).

• Shareable between different OS (Windows and Linux/UNIX).

• Cleaning functionality.

• Supports dependencies between packages.

• It's not only BASE SAS, Packages work with Viya too (dedicated macros for Viya are still macros; CAS-L user defined functions - is one of types served).

• Code is 100% "inspectable" before even loading it to the SAS session (with %previevPackage() macro).

• Package integrity/genuinity can be tested (with %verifyPackage() macro).

• Packages can be stored in and used from multiple directories (e.g., centrally maintained + your private).

• Packages can contain "additional content", like PDFs, etc.

• "Lazy" dataset loading is supported.

• Package development "enforces" order in code.

SAS Packages Framework - advantages

• Allows you to build and use SAS Packages.

• The framework is MIT licensed and 100% open source.

• The framework 100% SAS code (does not require any additional software to work).

• The framework allows running packages tests.

• Can be deployed in sasautos.

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Last review date: 2024-09-27

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