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.

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, 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.