topic Re: Advanced exam in SAS Programming

Advanced exam

pkp — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 17:08:52 GMT

Hi,

I attempted A)0-232 Advanced performance based exam . I have one question.

I had question like call macro and use macro debugging tool to get parameter out of that called macro.

My query: as they did not give me any path for that macro. so I can not use %include statement without knowing path.

so what is another method to call macro in SAS studio version of SAS.

please answer my question so I can do it in my next attempt as I did not pass my first attempt.

Each and every help will be appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Advanced exam

tarheel13 — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 02:17:51 GMT

I passed on first attempt. There's a webinar you can watch and also buy the programming guide and do all the exercises in it. That is what I did to pass. You need to know macros, SQL, and hash object.

Re: Advanced exam

tarheel13 — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 02:18:44 GMT

Also, make sure you do the practice exam on the SAS website.

Re: Advanced exam

tarheel13 — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 02:24:35 GMT

The practice exam is free. I suggest you look at it if you haven't already. Question 8 is similar to what you're asking. The debugging options you need are mprint, mlogic, and symbolgen. Use the % sign to call a macro. ex. %mymacro calls the mymacro macro.

https://www.sas.com/en_us/certification/resources/sas-practice-exams.html

Re: Advanced exam

pkp — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 03:01:00 GMT

I tried to find advanced programming guide . I could not find it. Could you
please provide link to buy it

Thanks in advance

Re: Advanced exam

tarheel13 — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 03:54:18 GMT

https://www.sas.com/store/product-view.ep?pID=BK_73006_en

Re: Advanced exam

Old_John — Thu, 13 May 2021 16:57:08 GMT

Hi all the experts,

please help.

I have been puzzled by the same problem.

For question8 in the practice, It is not stated but it seems clear that no %include statement will be needed in the real exam.

But a simple answer to the question which required to save a macro, call it with options of mprint and mlogic and read the log contents didn't work .

Is there something we missed here?

Thank you so much

Re: Advanced exam

Cynthia_sas — Thu, 13 May 2021 17:41:36 GMT

Hi:
In the SAS Macro class we cover the 3 main debugging options: MPRINT, MLOGIC and SYMBOLGEN. We also cover creating compiled macro programs and macro programs stored in an AUTOCALL library. My suggestion is that you review these topics in the Prep Guide or in the class. I cannot comment on what might or might not have been on your exam, since the questions can change for each exam taker. However, the complete Content Guide for the Advanced Programmer certification exam is here: https://www.sas.com/content/dam/SAS/documents/technical/certification/content-guide/advanced-programming-sas94.pdf where you will see that Macro topics represent 35% of the exam. Macro topics shown in the Content Guide are shown below for your reference with the debugging section highlighted:
Macro Processing (35%)
-- Create and use user-defined and automatic macro variables within the SAS Macro Language.
-- Define and use macro variables.
-- Use macro variable name delimiter. (.)
-- Use INTO clause of the SELECT statement in SQL to create a single variable or a list of variables.
-- Use the SYMPUTX routine in a DATA Step to create a single variable or a list of variables.
-- Control variable scope with:
     -- %GLOBAL statement
     -- %LOCAL statement
     -- SYMPUTX scope parameter
-- Automate programs by defining and calling macros using the SAS Macro Language.
-- Define a macro using the %MACRO and %MEND statements.
-- Calling a macro with and without parameters.
-- Document macro functionality with comments
-- Generate SAS Code conditionally by using the %IF-%THEN-%ELSE macro statements or iterative %DO statements.
-- Use the SAS AUTOCALL facility to permanently store and call macros.
-- Use macro functions.
-- Use macro functions. (%SCAN, %SUBSTR, %UPCASE)
-- Use macro quoting functions. (%NRSTR, %STR)
-- Use macro evaluation functions. (%SYSEVALF)
-- Use %SYSFUNC to execute DATA step functions within the SAS Macro Language.
-- Debug macros.
-- Trace the flow of execution with the MLOGIC option.
-- Examine the generated SAS statements with the MPRINT option.
-- Examine macro variable resolution with the SYMBOLGEN option.
-- Use the %PUT statement to print information to the log.
-- Create data-driven programs using SAS Macro Language.
-- Create a series of macro variables.
-- Use indirect reference to macro variables. (&&, etc.)
-- Incorporate DICTONARY tables in data driven macros.
-- Generate repetitive macro calls.

I would recommend that you review the complete Content Guide to see all the topics you can expect to find on the exam.

Hope this helps,
Cynthia

Re: Advanced exam

tarheel13 — Thu, 13 May 2021 18:15:36 GMT

options mprint;
%cars18(Asia, Europe)

This is how you would answer question 8. What part are you not understanding?

Re: Advanced exam

Old_John — Thu, 13 May 2021 18:40:27 GMT

Hi Irackley

Thank you for your response and comment.

I wrote exactly the same codes but somehow it didn’t work during the exam. I just don’t understand why.

Because it seems very straightforward, it is more frustrating to lost the scores.

As the original poster, I don’t know if the question asked to write a include statement to access the macro first. But the question did not asked for it.

Re: Advanced exam

tarheel13 — Thu, 13 May 2021 19:32:31 GMT

Without seeing the exam question, I could not help much. For the practice exam, you do need to use %include. I passed exam on first try and I just did the practice exam, looked at the webinar, and the certification guide has extra questions. That would be my recommendation for how to pass. The webinar would probably be advisable to watch since they have actual people from SAS telling you how to pass and go over a few more examples.

Re: Advanced exam

tarheel13 — Thu, 13 May 2021 19:34:01 GMT

https://www.sas.com/en_us/webinars/advanced-programming-professional-exam.html

Do this webinar. It will help you.

Re: Advanced exam

Old_John — Thu, 13 May 2021 22:30:23 GMT

Hi,

I watch the webinar. It is great. Unfortunately, I didn't find the answer for my question.

let's say %include is required to answer this kind of question. Is it possible to find the path where the macro program was located?

Please advise.

Re: Advanced exam

tarheel13 — Thu, 13 May 2021 23:07:34 GMT

Did you do the practice exam? It’s free. The instructions for uploading the data are at the beginning of the exam. The %include just needs to reference the filepath where you saved the macro. Let me know if you still have further questions.

Re: Advanced exam

Old_John — Fri, 14 May 2021 00:57:27 GMT

Hi Irackley,

Thank you for your help.

I did the practice exam. I remembered the question 8 very well during my exam. But as I said earlier, a simple macro call with options mprint and mlogic didn't work.

I suspect there might a system glitch or something.

When I run all of my macro projects, the log always presented with messy contents without giving any hint how to make changes of my codes.

It was such a frustrating experience. In retrospect, I do realize that I made some minor mistakes for these macro projects. But how to debug during the exam is a big concern.

The most worrisome is the macro debugging project because I don't think I was wrong for the project.

where and whom should I contact to find out.