topic data vs macro in SAS Programming

data vs macro

malov0610 — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 14:39:59 GMT

Hello, i need help. If anyone can show me on the data I attached the difference between the data and the macro code.

Re: data vs macro

Tom — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 14:53:03 GMT

You seem to have just attached datasets.

What are you asking for help with?

Re: data vs macro

malov0610 — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 14:59:53 GMT

I would like to understand the difference between data / proc steps and macro steps. I know the syntax, but when I try to write macro code I don't know how to define it exactly. If you can just show me in a simple example on my data.

Re: data vs macro

Kurt_Bremser — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 15:06:26 GMT

@malov0610 wrote:

I would like to understand the difference between data / proc steps and macro steps. I know the syntax, but when I try to write macro code I don't know how to define it exactly. If you can just show me in a simple example on my data.

There are no "macro steps". The macro preprocessor enables the dynamic creation of any SAS code anywhere in a program.

Writing macro code starts with working non-macro code that needs to be expanded to work in different situations, or be used in multiple places.

Re: data vs macro

Quentin — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 18:03:35 GMT

The purpose of the DATA step (and PROC step) is to process data.

The purpose of the macro language is to generate SAS code. That SAS code is often the code for DATA steps or PROC steps which process data.

The macro language is a code generator. Instead of typing SAS code yourself, you can type macro language code, and then run the macro language code in order to generate SAS code.

Re: data vs macro

Reeza — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 18:59:33 GMT

Have you take the first SAS e-course? I highly recommend that and its free.

Otherwise I have a list of curated resources here to teach you specific topics, with macro tutorials towards the end of the list.

https://github.com/statgeek/SAS-Tutorials/blob/master/Base_Certification_Resource_Guide.md