SAS Macro Programming Made Easy, Second Edition - Softcover

Burlew, Michele M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1590478827 ISBN 13: 9781590478820

Publisher: Sas Inst, 2007

Synopsis

Need help understanding the SAS macro facility? You will find all the answers that you need in this easy-to-follow book! Michele Burlew puts her decades of macro programming experience to work for you as she guides you through the basics, as well as the more complex features of the SAS macro facility, in SAS Macro Programming Made Easy, Second Edition. Updated extensively for SAS 9, this book includes plenty of examples and step-by-step instructions. You will learn the elements of the macro facility (macro variables, macro programs, macro language), how to write a macro program, macro programming techniques, tips on using the macro facility, how the macro facility fits into SAS, and about the interfaces between the macro facility and other components of SAS.

New topics for the second edition include using SAS 9 macro and SAS language features, debugging macro programs, adding error checking to macro programs, and building a library of utility macro programs.

Beginning macro programmers will learn to write SAS macro programs quickly and efficiently. More experienced macro programmers will find this book useful to refresh their conceptual knowledge and expand on their macro programming skills. It is also important to note that the macro facility is a highly popular part of SAS and found in the job requirements for many SAS programming jobs. In addition, macro facility concepts are tested on the SAS Advanced Programming Exam. The book assumes some SAS programming experience, including knowledge of how to write a DATA step and how to use SAS procedures.

About this title

About the Author

Michele M. Burlew, president of Episystems, Inc., designs and programs SAS applications for data management, data analysis, report writing, and graphics for academic and corporate clients. A SAS user since 1980, she has expertise in many SAS products and operating systems. Michele is the author of three other SAS Press books: Debugging SAS Programs: A Handbook of Tools and Techniques, Reading External Data Files Using SAS: Examples Handbook, and SAS Guide to Report Writing: Examples, Second Edition.

Review

Using SAS macros can provide functionality as well as flexibility within code. Reading Michele Burlew's book, SAS Macro Programming Made Easy, Second Edition, helps eliminate the 'fear factor' often associated with using macros, while offering valuable insight to programmers with a broad range of experience. This book appeals to the less experienced SAS programmer by explaining how a macro works in an easy-to-understand way and offers insight on various programming techniques. Michele compares the use of the macro procedure to using an office assistant to perform repetitive tasks in a way that most can relate to. Experienced programmers will also find this second edition of SAS Macro Programming Made Easy a useful tool in better understanding the mechanics associated with macros. This book was easy to follow and provides an excellent reference for macro programmers. --Suson vonLehmden, Supervisor, System Analysis & Programming, Research Computing Division RTI International

This second edition updates the classic macro book with SAS features and new sections, making this excellent reference to the SAS macro language even better. Michele's friendly style is especially good for programmers who might be fearful of macro programming (like me!). This book is filled with examples showing how to store and reuse macro programs, build a library of routines, debug macro programs, and a stepwise method for writing macro code. The discussion of the autocall and compiled macro facilities is very well done. In this section, Michele gives examples of both of these facilities, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each. As an added value, you may want to include the macros she presents in your own macro library. Michele Burlew has added new material and brought her already excellent first edition up to date. This is a book that anyone who uses the macro facility needs to have in their collection. --Dr. Ron Cody, Professor (retired), Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

We all want a 'SAS programming assistant' to help us complete our jobs more quickly. In her book SAS Macro Programming Made Easy, Second Edition, Michele Burlew encourages us to take advantage of the SAS Macro Facility as our 'SAS programming assistant.' She demonstrates how macros can handle many of the SAS programming tasks that you presently spend a lot of time on. The Macro 'newbie' will learn well from the logical progression of topics and the in-depth coverage of concepts. Both beginner and intermediate macro programmers will benefit from the behind-the-scenes explanations of how macro programs process, the debugging tools and tips (because unexpected results do happen), and the stepwise macro development method, which is a wonderful approach to maintain your sanity when writing macros. Whether you read this book sequentially or jump right to topics you need to know, you will find this book to be a valuable resource. --Marje Fecht, Senior Partner, Prowerk Consulting

This second edition updates the classic macro book with SAS®9 features and new sections, making this excellent reference to the SAS macro language even better. Michele's friendly style is especially good for programmers who might be fearful of macro programming (like me!). This book is filled with examples showing how to store and reuse macro programs, build a library of routines, debug macro programs, and a stepwise method for writing macro code. The discussion of the autocall and compiled macro facilities is very well done. In this section, Michele gives examples of both of these facilities, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each. As an added value, you may want to include the macros she presents in your own macro library. Michele Burlew has added new material and brought her already excellent first edition up to date. This is a book that anyone who uses the macro facility needs to have in their collection. --Dr. Ron Cody, Professor (retired), Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

We all want a 'SAS programming assistant' to help us complete our jobs more quickly. In her book SAS Macro Programming Made Easy, Second Edition, Michele Burlew encourages us to take advantage of the SAS Macro Facility as our 'SAS programming assistant.' She demonstrates how macros can handle many of the SAS programming tasks that you presently spend a lot of time on. The Macro 'newbie' will learn well from the logical progression of topics and the in-depth coverage of concepts. Both beginner and intermediate macro programmers will benefit from the behind-the-scenes explanations of how macro programs process, the debugging tools and tips (because unexpected results do happen), and the stepwise macro development method, which is a wonderful approach to maintain your sanity when writing macros. Whether you read this book sequentially or jump right to topics you need to know, you will find this book to be a valuable resource. --Marje Fecht, Senior Partner, Prowerk Consulting

Edition details

• Publisher: Sas Inst
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1590478827
• ISBN 13: 9781590478820
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 426