topic Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data in SAS Studio

Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

MaryA_Marion — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:37:23 GMT

I am running the following autoexec before calling a macro. I usually just have the output go to the default window so I am not specifying html or pdf in the code itself although it is listed in the preferences.

AUTOEXEC.SAS
%LET sasworklocation="/folders/myfolders/";
ODS LISTING GPATH=&sasworklocation; 
/* ODS STATEMENTS */
ods path reset; 
ods _ALL_ close; 
ods trace off;
ods listing; 
ods noptitle; 
ods graphics on;

*INITIALIZATION 
proc printto; run;

I am following the autoexec with a call to a macro but I suspect that the macro itself initiates the table of content output. That is what is happening on the code I am working with. A display of unwanted table of content data appears in the results window. How can I stop that from happening when running SAS University? It greatly increases output size. I got it to stop once when I changed the preferences but it is back in again. The following statement added to the macro does not work.

ODS html5 exclude toc

The error message says:

 html5 destination is not active

I need something similar to this ???

I don't want to output to pdf or rtf for simplicity. I just want to open sas studio /sas university, code, and get output to the screen.

By the way, why am I not getting an output window as well?

Thanks. MM

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

Cynthia_sas — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:54:30 GMT

Hi:
Without seeing ALL of your code, it is hard to comment.
Cynthia

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

Quentin — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:59:15 GMT

Did you look into the macro definition to see if it does indeed initiate the TOC? If the macro is generating code that explicitly creates a TOC, I would think the answer would be to modify the macro (perhaps add a parameter that allows you to turn the TOC on/off). If the macro does not ask for TOC, then I would look at the log to see the ODS statement generated by studio, to see if that is what is adding the TOC.

Maybe a simple test would be submit something like:

%macro printit(data);
  proc print data=&data (obs=5);
  run;
%mend printit;

%printit(sashelp.shoes)
%printit(sashelp.class)

If you run that, and studio creates a TOC, you will know it's not the code generated by the macro. And you'd have a simple log to look at to see what code is asking for the TOC. I haven't used Studio. I'm assuming that, similar to EG, you can set an option to make sure that the wrapper code generated by studio is shown in the log.

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

MaryA_Marion — Sat, 18 May 2019 14:58:24 GMT

TOC is actually not correct. It is directory information and library members that are outputting. I need to put that to the log one time, not the 8 times it is done at the start of the program. It is also done later on.

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

Tom — Sat, 18 May 2019 15:25:01 GMT

The last picture that you copied into a PDF and then attached (why not just use the Insert Photo icon on the editor to put the picture in your post?) is the output of PROC CONTENTS.

Find where the PROC CONTENTS code is. If you need it to produce an output dataset you can add the NOPRINT option to stop it from also producing the report. If you don't need it to produce an output dataset then just remove it.

proc contents data=sashelp.class out=contents noprint;
run;

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

MaryA_Marion — Sat, 18 May 2019 15:16:51 GMT

SAS is actually creating directory information and library member information not toc. I read the output window incorrectly. I need to turn this off somehow. Thank you for your reply. I am paying more attention to the log now.

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

MaryA_Marion — Sat, 18 May 2019 15:39:06 GMT

there is no proc contents code....Strange!

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

Tom — Sat, 18 May 2019 15:40:06 GMT

The CONTENTS statement inside of PROC DATASETS can generate PROC CONTENTS output also.

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

MaryA_Marion — Sat, 18 May 2019 15:51:05 GMT

Only one proc datasets in code, mmeans2 is called multiple times. How to modify?

%macro mmeans2(dsname,varlst,stat);
proc datasets library=work; delete meansout; run;
proc means data=&dsname noprint;
var &varlst;
output out=meansout
n=n nmiss=nmiss mean=mean Std=Std min=min max=max range=range
sum=sum var=var uss=uss css=css Stderr=Stderr cv=cv
/* skewness=skewness kurtosis=kurtosis sumwgt=sumwgt */
t=t prt=prt;
run;
...

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

Tom — Sat, 18 May 2019 15:56:15 GMT

The easiest thing is to use PROC DELETE if you want to delete a dataset. Then code it clearer and it runs faster.

proc delete data=work.meansout; run;

Or you could add the NOLIST option to your PROC DATASETS statement.

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

MaryA_Marion — Sat, 18 May 2019 16:55:49 GMT

Tom,
Thank you. I needed to learn to read what followed table of contents in the results window. I notice there is a contents noprint option to proc datasets. I did not seem to need it however. 5 stars! MM

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

MaryA_Marion — Sat, 18 May 2019 17:08:56 GMT

Where is this insert photo icon? Do I need to go interactive? Are you referring to a SAS U window?

Re: Questions regarding macros automatically outputting table of content data

Tom — Sat, 18 May 2019 17:35:22 GMT

It is right on the menu when editing your post. Along with the Insert Code and Insert SAS Code buttons.