topic Re: SAS %input not working? in New SAS User

SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:58:03 GMT

Hi,

I have the following code:

%macro test;
  %put Type in a name:;
  %input inName;
  %put The name you entered is &inName;
%mend test;

%test;

When I run this code in Windows:

Nothing happens, the two put statements are printed out in the log window.

When I run this code in UNIX:

I get two blank lines but it is waiting for an input. After type something, there will be another blank line and it takes me back to the command line. When I check the log file, the variable inName stores what I have typed in.

Is there something wrong with my code or I am approaching it in the wrong direction? I just wanted to ask the user for input.

Thanks

Re: SAS %input not working?

sbxkoenk — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:13:22 GMT

Hello,

On what OS are you intending to use this code? On Windows or on Unix?

No idea why the

%INPUT Macro Statement

does not seem to work on SAS Windows.

But are you sure you want to go there?

There are many other and much better ways to capture user input.

%WINDOW Macro Statement
%DISPLAY Statement Macro Statement
%INPUT Macro Statement

can still be used but they are old stuff!

What SAS are you using: SAS 9.4 Mx or SAS Viya?
Do you have Enterprise Guide or do you have Visual Analytics?

Thanks,

Koen

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:36:20 GMT

Wow, I didn't know there are so many options. I NEED to have this working in UNIX environment. It would be nice to know how it will work in Windows, but not as important. I do have SAS Enterprise Guide but I rarely use it as I am still 'newbie' in this field.

Once I have time, I would like to investigate the difference between SAS Windows and SAS Enterprise Guide. At a glance, they seem to work similarly. I only heard that Enterprise Guide is more point and click.

Re: SAS %input not working?

Reeza — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:38:33 GMT

When a %INPUT statement executes as part of an interactive line mode session, the macro processor waits for you to enter a line containing values. In a windowing environment session, the macro processor does NOT wait for you to input values. Instead, it simply reads the next line that is processed in the program and attempts to assign variable values.

https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.5/mcrolref/n1jspx1ctztpvzn1gpkw12oe3661.htm

Looks like you're running in interactive mode in Unix and not in Windows.

@cosmid wrote:

Hi,

I have the following code:
%macro test;
  %put Type in a name:;
  %input inName;
  %put The name you entered is &inName;
%mend test;

%test;
When I run this code in Windows:

Nothing happens, the two put statements are printed out in the log window.

When I run this code in UNIX:

I get two blank lines but it is waiting for an input. After type something, there will be another blank line and it takes me back to the command line. When I check the log file, the variable inName stores what I have typed in.

Is there something wrong with my code or I am approaching it in the wrong direction? I just wanted to ask the user for input.

Thanks

Re: SAS %input not working?

Reeza — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:39:48 GMT

I don't think I've ever seen %INPUT used for user input by the way....usually if you need prompts I'd recommend using EG instead.

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:43:15 GMT

Hi Reeza, thank you for pointing that out. I didn't read the document carefully enough.Now I understand why it doesn't work in Windows. Right now I am just trying to figure out what I need to have the code working in UNIX.

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:44:39 GMT

What is EG? Thanks

Re: SAS %input not working?

sbxkoenk — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:46:15 GMT

EG = Enterprise Guide.

Very easy to prompt the user for input in Enterprise Guide.

Koen

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:46:19 GMT

Ok, SAS Enterprise Guide. But it seems if I have it working in EG it will not work in UNIX since they are kind of different unless I missed something there too? lol

Unfortunately, I need the code working for UNIX.

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:47:24 GMT

Hi Koen! Yes, I just googled it and yet you still beat me to it.

Re: SAS %input not working?

sbxkoenk — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:48:30 GMT

Hello,

Enterprise Guide can be your front-end to a UNIX SAS session.

Have a look how your Enterprise Guide is set up?

Does it connect to a Windows SAS or does it connect to a UNIX SAS?

Koen

Re: SAS %input not working?

Reeza — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:48:42 GMT

Enterprise Guide is the front end. Is this going to be run by a developer in the back end or are you developing something for an end user to run for SAS where they select specific parameters?

When you say it needs to run on Unix is that SAS running on Unix or end users will be access SAS to run this themselves on Unix?

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:49:36 GMT

It's connected to the Windows SAS.

Re: SAS %input not working?

Tom — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 18:59:08 GMT

How did you start the SAS session on Windows that is running the code? Did you open a command window and type a command like

sas myfile

like you would from a Unix prompt?

Or did you click on something in Windows graphical user interface? If so what did you click on? What does it do? How does it actually end up running SAS?

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 19:00:16 GMT

The EG is only available on my Windows. Other users don't have access to it. They need access to this program in UNIX environment since that's where all the data resides. When they run the code. I need to prompt them to ask which section of the code they want to run otherwise everything will be executed and will take a long time for the code to complete. I just need them to enter like a number between 0-5 and it'll work.

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 19:04:28 GMT

Hi Tom, the SAS in Windows, I just click on the SAS 9.4 (English) at the Start Menu and it'll open up SAS Windows. And in UNIX, I just type in sas & to start SAS there and it will load about 4 to 5 separate windows, for log, editor, etc.

Re: SAS %input not working?

Tom — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 19:22:41 GMT

@cosmid wrote:

Hi Tom, the SAS in Windows, I just click on the SAS 9.4 (English) at the Start Menu and it'll open up SAS Windows. And in UNIX, I just type in sas & to start SAS there and it will load about 4 to 5 separate windows, for log, editor, etc.

So look at the definition of the ICON you are clicking on to see where SAS lives on your computer and try typing that command from a command window. THen you can see if it will also accept input from the terminal the way it did in Unix.

Since you appear to be using DISPLAY MANAGER in both cases you can use the %WINDOW statement to get your user input. Check out the second example in the documentation. https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.5/mcrolref/n0ojc9rtfrzvbdn16kqd2c5mzobq.htm

Re: SAS %input not working?

ballardw — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 19:29:16 GMT

First let's see if I understand what you want to happen.

I am guessing that you want users to enter something, then display it back or use that entered value in a program.

In the Display Manager interactive sessions you would use the %window (for macro) to define a window for users to enter text into and then the %display command to activate the window.

Example

%macro Nameentry;
%window Name
  #5 @5 'Please enter name:'
  #5 @26 name 8 attr=underline
;
%display name;

%put Name entered was &name.;
%mend;

%Nameentry

The %window statement is a single statement with a number of options such as color and such. After keyword %window is the Name of the window, in this case Name. The #5 @5 display something at line 5 column 5 inside the window. The first displays the text indicating what to enter. Then at column 26 the text entry area starts, the 8 allows 8 characters and the attr=underline shows a line in the window for the text entry.

Note that the line contents do not end with a semicolon. The whole %window is a single statement with a single semicolon ending the whole thing.

The %display command uses the name of the window to display.

When you enter the text and press the enter key the window closes and the %put displays the value entered.

You can have multiple rows of displayed text (instructions or example perhaps) and multiple entry areas each with the name of a different macro variable.

This should work on Windows, Unix or other interactive systems

Documentation at: https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.4/mcrolref/n0ojc9rtfrzvbdn16kqd2c5mzobq.htm for options that control the appearance of the window.

There is also a data step equivalent.

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 19:38:56 GMT

Great, it worked!

Re: SAS %input not working?

cosmid — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 19:40:52 GMT

Hi ballardw, thank you so much for that information! It explained the document better and gave me a better understanding. Tom posted the doc just a few mins before this one so I have accepted that as the solution. It would be nice if I can accept both. Thanks again for your help!