topic Running an external function ( Java/C#) from SAS in SAS Programming

Running an external function ( Java/C#) from SAS

Sajid01 — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 13:49:07 GMT

Hello

It is possible to run an external C function from SAS (https://support.sas.com/kb/40/562.html)

I have a similar scenario in which I invoke a java jar file from SAS using x commands.

I was wondering if it is possible to use a jar as shown below :

/* From https://support.sas.com/kb/40/562.html for a C language dll)
proc proto stdcall package=work.proto_ds.cfcns;
  link 'c:\temp\myfactorial.dll';
  int myfactorial(int n) ;
run;
/* What I am looking to do is something like this */
proc proto stdcall package=work.proto_ds.cfcns;
  link 'c:\temp\myfactorial.jar';
  int myfactorial(int n) ;
run;

Wondering if somebody has attempted something like this.

Re: Running an external function ( Java/C#) from SAS

SASKiwi — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 21:44:49 GMT

Only C and C++ are mentioned in the SAS documentation for PROTO and this functionally appears to go back at least to SAS 9.2 and doesn't look like it has changed much since then. I'm wondering if its a side-benefit from SAS being written in C. I doubt that PROTO goes beyond what the documentation says. Maybe there are alternative ways of adding Java functions.

Re: Running an external function ( Java/C#) from SAS

andreas_lds — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 08:17:54 GMT

You can't use proc proto, but you can use java objects in a data step, have a look at https://documentation.sas.com/doc/de/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.4/lecompobjref/n186ts6janpgypn1k6dldyuh3xqs.htm for details.

Re: Running an external function ( Java/C#) from SAS

Sajid01 — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 12:29:27 GMT

Thanks @andreas_lds for the response.
My intention was to enhance the capability of the SAS program using custom functions.
Unfortunately using the java object does not serve the purpose.
Looks like C/C++ is my only option.