topic Re: Each macro submission, new plots with different names are created in New SAS User

Each macro submission, new plots with different names are created

trungdungtran — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 20:55:09 GMT

Hi,

I am trying to use ODS combining with macro to save png plots. The first time I submit the following codes:

%Let param1=Intercept;
%Let param2=x;
/* Save png */
%macro m_hist;
	%Do para=1 %to 2;
	Ods graphics / imagename="&&param&para" imagefmt=png;
	Proc univariate data=combination;
		Title "Histogram of &&param&para";
		Where Variable="&&param&para";
		Var Estimate;
		Histogram Estimate/ odstitle="Histogram of &&param&para";
	Run;
	%End;
%mend;
%m_hist;

I get two files Intercept1.png and x1.png.

This is unusual since I set the names without number 1 at the end.

I submit the macro program again, %m_hist;, this time I get Intercept3.png and x3.png. The third time I submit I get Intercept5.png and x5.png.

That is not what I expect. Do you have any idea?

Thanks for reading!

Kind regards,

Trung Dung.

Re: Each macro submission, new plots with different names are created

VDD — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 21:00:12 GMT

that is because of this statement:

%Do para=1 %to 2;

so you are getting the results that are specified.

Re: Each macro submission, new plots with different names are created

trungdungtran — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 21:06:23 GMT

Hi @VDD,

I think the file names are fixed as &&param&para is resolved as "Intercept" when i=1 and "x" when i=2. Could you explain more?

Re: Each macro submission, new plots with different names are created

VDD — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 21:44:10 GMT

the do loop is setting &para.

Re: Each macro submission, new plots with different names are created

PGStats — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 04:49:07 GMT

The numbers at te end if file names have nothing to do with your macro. They are added by the ODS to avoid overwriting existing files as explained here:

https://documentation.sas.com/?docsetId=statug&docsetTarget=statug_odsgraph_sect036.htm&docsetVersion=14.3&locale=en

Change your statement to

Ods graphics / imagename="&&param&para" imagefmt=png reset=index;

to force overwriting.

Re: Each macro submission, new plots with different names are created

trungdungtran — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 09:30:02 GMT

Yes, the option "reset=index" solves the problem!

Thank you @PGStats.