topic Re: How to get multiple log files to output using ALTLOG in SAS Programming

How to get multiple log files to output using ALTLOG

SAShole — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 18:05:58 GMT

I would like to get multiple log files for my program. One overall log file for my 'driver program' that is a master log that captures everything and one for each individual report that is called within the main program.

I have job that runs on the SAS Scheduler Manager plug-in through SAS MC.

I've added this to the execute line:

-altlog /opt/sas/data/sas_reports/scheduler/weekly_report_$(date +%Y-%m-%d_%H%M%S).log

My 'driver program' calls 40 individual reports like this:

%include "/opt/sas/data/Prog1.sas";

%include "/opt/sas/data/Prog2.sas";

....

%include "/opt/sas/data/Prog40.sas";

The individual programs have a similar structure like this:

proc printto
log="&fname..log" new;
quit;

body of the program

proc printto;
quit;

Details:

SAS 9.4 on UNIX Grid Servers

According to this thread it seems like it should be possible:

https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Programming/Outputting-log-to-two-locations/td-p/301336

@Astounding @zekeT_sasaholic

However, when I open my ALTLOG file it stops printing as soon as it hits the proc printto in my first program.

What am I missing?

Re: How to get multiple log files to output using ALTLOG

yabwon — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 14:36:42 GMT

Hi @SAShole ,

1) your login looks like Paul Dorfman's ( @hashman ) e-mail address 🙂

2) why not to make code of programs just:

/*
body of a program
*/

and then add this little macro in teh main program:

%macro runMe(program);
filename myLog "/opt/sas/data/sas_reports/scheduler/weekly_report_%sysfunc(datetime(), b8601dt.).log";
proc printto log=myLOG new;
run;
 
%include "/opt/sas/data/&program..sas";

proc printto; run;
data _null_;
  infile myLog;
  input;
  put _infile_;
run;
filename myLog clear;
%mend runMe;



%runMe(Prog1)
%runMe(Prog2)
%runMe(Prog3)
...

you will get the result you need and you don't have to modify SAS session.

All the best

Bart

Re: How to get multiple log files to output using ALTLOG

zekeT_sasaholic — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 01:33:11 GMT

Hi there. Yikes im kinda late to the game here. Did you get this to work? I'll monitor to see whats going on. Feel free to email me: info@ztorres.net - so i havent fully seen the write up here or what @Bart has replied (which i'd trust works). Hence I just wanted to apologize for a late response and see where to help. Best - z

Re: How to get multiple log files to output using ALTLOG

SAShole — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 18:48:45 GMT

If I have a proc printto within the program I'm calling will that cancel out the main log? My goal is to get a 'Master log' and individual log's for each program.

Re: How to get multiple log files to output using ALTLOG

yabwon — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 19:37:01 GMT

Run my example and you'll see you have both.

Bart

Re: How to get multiple log files to output using ALTLOG

SASKiwi — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 01:12:43 GMT

@SAShole - I'm curious to know why you think splitting batch logs is an improvement over a single log per job.

If you are looking for errors it is a whole lot easier to scan one file instead of several. Also since you are using %INCLUDE statements to bring in each program, the program boundaries in the logs are clear if you search on %INCLUDE.

Then there is the complication of adding and managing ALTLOGs.

Personally I follow the KISS (Keep It Simple) principle 😉