topic Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window in SAS Programming

User wants SAS code to return to Log window

NKormanik — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 02:52:18 GMT

SAS 9.4

When current SAS code completes, the last window open, on top, is the "Results" window.

User wants SAS to return to the "Log" window, programmatically.

The answer, via searching, seems to be:

/* Command to switch to the Log window and maximize it */
dm 'log; wmaximize;';

Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to work. Seems to be entirely ignored. Top window continues to be "Results". Even though the above command does appear in the log window (when user manually returns there, by way of mouse click on log 'tab').

Suggestions greatly appreciated.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

whymath — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 01:54:49 GMT

DM statement only take effects in windowing environment, not in EG. Are you using EG(Enterprise Guide)? If so, you may need to use your mouse, there is a switch in: Tools > Options > Result

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

SASKiwi — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 04:03:14 GMT

Defining a function key that both runs the code, then goes to the LOG window works for me: submit;log

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

yabwon — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 07:25:07 GMT

As @whymath wrote the DM statement works only in Display Manager environment, i.e., this one:

and as you can see in the help window, documentation confirms the fact.

If your code is executed in SAS Enterprise Guide, SAS Studio, or even Visual Studio Code with SAS extension, the DM wont do a thing, it will be ignored.

Bart

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

NKormanik — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 02:31:53 GMT

"DM statement works only in Display Manager environment..."

What we have to do, then, is define Display Manager environment.

Aren't all the SAS 9.4 'windows' included?

If we run a script in SAS 9.4, are we running that script in the DM environment?

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

SASKiwi — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 03:42:13 GMT

There are three SAS-supplied development interfaces to SAS 9.4:

SAS Windowing Environment (also known as Display Manager)
SAS Enterprise Guide
SAS Studio

You can run SAS scripts in any of these interfaces and also from operating system command lines as a batch job.

DM statements (short for Display Manager) only work in the first interface, not the other two. I suggest you explore the above links to find out more about each interface.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

NKormanik — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 06:09:07 GMT

Yep, SAS 9.4, what I said at the outset should work, but doesn't.

/* Command to switch to the Log window and maximize it */
dm 'log; wmaximize;';

Perhaps give it a try in some script. Put it at the end of the script.

The objective is to end up with the 'Log' window on top, maximized.

Maybe DM commands do not work from scripts?

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

yabwon — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 07:37:49 GMT

The <DM> statement is IDE/GUI dependent.

If your program runs in Batch (hard to call it IDE, I know), SAS Enterprise Guide or SAS Studio the <DM> won't work.

If your program runs in SAS Windowing Environment (aka SAS Display Manager aka SASDM) then <DM> will work.

So unless the user/customer you're writing about works in SASDM then the <DM> statement won't help.

Bart

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

Quentin — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:29:55 GMT

How are you running SAS? Which application do you open when you submit SAS code? Are you using SAS Enterprise Guide? Or SAS Studio? Or visual studio code (unlikely)? Or "PC SAS"?

If you don't know, can you post a screen shot of your SAS interface, as it looks when you are viewing the log, and include all of the menus and windows on the screen? If it looks like the picture that @yabwon posted, then DM commands should work.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

SASKiwi — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 19:40:45 GMT

@NKormanik - Looks like you haven't read my workaround above using a function key defined as submit;log. I tried it myself and it worked.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

NKormanik — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:05:14 GMT

I prefer to drag my SAS scripts from Windows Desktop (or Explorer) to the SAS Log window.

One after another.

That's why I would prefer PC SAS to end up with the Log window on top at the end of running a script. Just one less hassle.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

NKormanik — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:07:08 GMT

I did indeed. Works nicely. Thank you!

However, I'd still prefer PC SAS end up with the Log window top-most.

Such a simple request.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

SASKiwi — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:27:45 GMT

Please note that the SAS Windowing Environment interface you are using is in "maintenance mode" only now and so has not been enhanced for many years. I understand the web-based interface SAS Studio does exactly what you want and that is the interface now getting all the improvements.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

Quentin — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:44:15 GMT

@NKormanik wrote:

I did indeed. Works nicely. Thank you!

However, I'd still prefer PC SAS end up with the Log window top-most.

Such a simple request.

I'm confused, what is it you don't like? If you assign a function key to submit;log then the log should be top-most. This ability to customize windows via DM commands is one of the great features of PC SAS aka Display Manager SAS that isn't (IMHO) implemented as nicely in EG or Studio.

You can have a function key for (logically, I didn't look up the syntax): DM zoom off;submit;log; maximize; You can have a function key for DM log; clear;program;submit;log;maximize.

If you don't like using function keys, and prefer to click an icon (running man) when you submit, I'm pretty sure you can create and icon and have it run similar DM commands.

For log parsing, you can actually use DM commands to copy the content of the log window to a file.

If you search lexjansen.com, you'll find plenty of papers by users who have used DM commands to customize their coding environment. See e.g. https://support.sas.com/resources/papers/proceedings12/151-2012.pdf

Long live DM commands! : )

If your complaint is that the installed default should be that SAS always shifts context to the log after a submit, I might agree with that. But they made it so easy to configure this behavior, it's hard for me to see this as a fault.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

Quentin — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:48:33 GMT

@NKormanik wrote:

I prefer to drag my SAS scripts from Windows Desktop (or Explorer) to the SAS Log window.

One after another.

That's why I would prefer PC SAS to end up with the Log window on top at the end of running a script. Just one less hassle.

Ahh, I missed this post. I've been using PC SAS for 25 years. Never knew until today that if you drag a .sas file into the log window it submits the code. That's wild.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

Tom — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 01:12:55 GMT

@NKormanik wrote:

I prefer to drag my SAS scripts from Windows Desktop (or Explorer) to the SAS Log window.

One after another.

That's why I would prefer PC SAS to end up with the Log window on top at the end of running a script. Just one less hassle.

So change your Preferences. Unclick this box in the Results panel.

Re: User wants SAS code to return to Log window

NKormanik — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 05:44:45 GMT

Or even a .txt file.

Easy peasy.