topic Re: Masking Certain Macro Variables in SAS Programming

Masking Certain Macro Variables

dineshg1984 — Mon, 29 May 2017 09:04:25 GMT

I am resolving my ID and Password through macro variables in my SAS code. I am using Option mprint and symbolgen to see the resolved value of other macros in my code. I dont want it to resolve my ID and Password. Is there a way that I can mask these 2 macro variables

Re: Masking Certain Macro Variables

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 29 May 2017 09:16:24 GMT

#1 disable mprint and symbolgen immediately before setting and using the macro variables.

#2 use a masked version of the passwords (proc pwencode)

#3 see if you can adapt your process so that credentials are not needed (ie set up automated ssh connections with public/private key authentication)

solution 3 is to be preferred.

In places where we need confidential information, this is stored in .sas files only readable by the user in question; these files are %include'd when needed. For security, they have options nomprint nosymbolgen set (so no public log will show the values).

Re: Masking Certain Macro Variables

dineshg1984 — Mon, 29 May 2017 10:06:28 GMT

Thank You Sir!!

Re: Masking Certain Macro Variables

Tom — Mon, 29 May 2017 14:41:21 GMT

If you are using the password in a LIBNAME statement then you should also consider using the LIBNAME() function in a data step instead. You can use the SYMGET() function to retrieve a macro variable value without it being displayed.