sc5 Tracker

Re: Macro variable not resolved - ONLY in scheduled jobs. Works fine when manually run.

sc5 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 23:01:55 GMT

I'll try this, thank you! 🙂

The data step is within a macro, but the macro variables created are also being used within the same macro function and failing to resolve.

Re: Macro variable not resolved - ONLY in scheduled jobs. Works fine when manually run.

sc5 — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 01:12:51 GMT

Yup, all of that is fine.

I didn't want to include company name info, but it's basically in the format

%include "d:\mydir1\mydir2\report_1.sas";

It's a windows server.

there's absolutely no issue with the path names. It successfully calls these scripts and starts running them, we have hundreds of jobs that run successfully in the same format, etc.

The issue is *after* these scripts are called, in the middle of each script's execution, *only* with macro variables not resolving, and *only* when run as part of the scheduled run.

Thank you for replying!:)

Re: Macro variable not resolved - ONLY in scheduled jobs. Works fine when manually run.

sc5 — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:56:00 GMT

Thanks for replying!

Every script has that piece of code in it.

So the main script is like

%include "mydir/report_1.sas";

%include "mydir/report_2.sas";

%include "mydir/report_3.sas";

and each of those scripts has the code snippet in them.

Macro variable not resolved - ONLY in scheduled jobs. Works fine when manually run.

sc5 — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:56:55 GMT

Hi!

There's this bit of code in a few report scripts that works perfectly fine when run manually, but crashes every other month when run as part of an automated scheduled job.

This job calls multiple scripts sequentially one after another and this bit of code exists in each of those scripts. The first script works fine in the automated run, but all other scripts that follow fail. But again, running them all sequentially manually works.

data _null_;

mth_start = intnx('month',today(),-1,'B');

mth_end = intnx('month',today(),-1,'E');

call symput('mth_s', put(mth_start,date9.));

call symput('mth_e', put(mth_end,date9.));

run;

%put &mth_s;

%put &mth_e;

In the logs it says WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference MTH_S not resolved.

And then when the macro variables are called later on in Proc SQL WHERE clauses, the scripts just fail.

Any advice on how I can fix this?

EDIT:

Every script has that piece of code in it.

So the main script is like

%include "mydir/report_1.sas";

%include "mydir/report_2.sas";

%include "mydir/report_3.sas";

and each of those scripts has the code snippet in them.

Thank you!

Re: Proc Format cntlin numeric informat

sc5 — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 05:59:06 GMT

Sorting worked, thank you! 🙂

Proc Format cntlin numeric informat

sc5 — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 05:54:36 GMT

Hi,

I have 2 datasets as below: 'insects' and 'test1'.

Data test1 has thousands of rows with many columns including binary 1/0 ins_ant, ins_bee. ins_beetle.

I want to calculate new columns 'total_weight' and 'total_id' based on the values in Data insects (sum of the corresponding "weight"s and "id"s.)

I'm using a proc format to do this, my code is below.

I used type = 'I' because my input is a string (insect name) and outputs are numbers, and that's the informat type to use to the documentation here - SAS Help Center: Results: PROC FORMAT

But my final output dataset test2 has null values for the total_weight and total_id columns.

What am I doing wrong?

Or please let me know if there's a simpler way to do this (without using proc format, but also without hardcoding anything like names of insects/weights/ids/number of insects etc.)

Thank you!!

code:

data insects; length insect $100.; insect='ant'; weight = 10; id0 = 1; output; insect='beetle'; weight = 20; id0 = 2; output; insect='bee'; weight = 30; id0 = 3; output; run; data fmt; set insects; length start $100; start = upcase(strip(insect)); retain type 'I'; fmtname = 'weight'; label = weight; output fmt; fmtname = 'id'; label = id0; output fmt; keep start fmtname label type; run; proc format cntlin=fmt; run; data test1; patient = 4772; ins_ant = 1; ins_bee = 1; ins_beetle = 0; output; patient = 6792; ins_ant = 0; ins_bee = 1; ins_beetle = 1; output; run; data test2; set test1; total_weight = 0; total_id0 = 0; array ins_all {*} ins_: ; do i_local = 1 to dim(ins_all); total_weight = total_weight + ( ins_all[i_local] * input(upcase(strip(scan(vname(ins_all[i_local]),2,'_'))),weight.) ); total_id0 = total_id0 + ( ins_all[i_local] * input(upcase(strip(scan(vname(ins_all[i_local]),2,'_'))),id.) ); end; drop i_local; run;

Re: Toggle between sum and average in a VA bar chart

sc5 — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:59:29 GMT

Thank you! I've got that, I just don't understand how to set up the actual y variable to be graphed? If I try creating a calculated field like "If parameter1 = "Average" then return avg(bygroup,yvar) else return sum(bygroup,yvar) it doesn't let me, it just underlines the "if" in red and doesn't let me create the field.

Toggle between sum and average in a VA bar chart

sc5 — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 10:18:41 GMT

Hi,

I have a bar chart of y vs x. The aggregation of the y variable is set as sum by default. I know I can change this in the data object, but is there a way to add a drop-down toggle for a report viewer to select whether they want to view the sum or average in a specific bar chart?

I assume we can do this with parameters, but I'm not sure how to set up the calculated field to make this work?

Thanks

Re: Linear regression | dynamically update predicted values

sc5 — Wed, 08 May 2024 15:08:30 GMT

Addition / update: Apparently we don't have access to add .js files to the webserver, we can only store files in the SAS content server, so this doesn't work.

Is there any way at all to pass parameters to a SAS Job without JavaScript? I don't even necessarily need to pass filtered data through to the job, if I could just pass multi-value character parameters from a VA report to a SAS Job that would be great and would help a lot. Then I can just connect my list controls to those parameters.

I know there are task prompt jobs like the 'Dynamic Prompts Using CARS Data' sample job provided that I can add to a DDC/Job Content object. If I use that method, I'd be looking for a way where those prompt parameters can either
a. simultaneously also act on other graphical / plot objects, or
b. get their values directly from defined parameters/list controls that are also linked to other chart objects.

Is that possible?

Also, would it be possible to see the 2 example reports from this link? Modernizing Scenario Analysis With SAS Viya and SAS Visual Analytics

The 2nd one especially seems to be dynamically connecting parameters to a job like I want to, but the GitHub doesn't have any .js or HTML or JSON files and it's a bit difficult to see how it's actually interfacing with the report.

I also can't see the full list of parameters required and how they're set up to simultaneously work on the DDC and the visuals.

Thanks a lot!!

Re: Linear regression | dynamically update predicted values

sc5 — Wed, 08 May 2024 01:30:31 GMT

Thank you! I'm in touch with SAS and will see if we can sort it out.

Meanwhile, I just wanted to confirm again - the only way to perform and display any kind of dynamic calculation from sliced data is via HTML job forms that call JavaScript functions?

Wanted to check because our aim is to evaluate whether SAS VIYA Visual Analytics can be used as a GUI / interactive tool for data science / data analysis.

If this is the only way to do any kind of calculation / 1D regression on data in a visual report, that would mean we would need to learn JavaScript and HTML in addition to SAS (which we already use) to build dashboards, which we currently do with a little VBA / just formulas in Excel (example screenshots in my first reply).
e.g. as list controls are used to filter in a new subset of data, display predicted values and other derived calculations for that new subset of data updating in real time.

Thank you for your time and patience!

Re: Linear regression | dynamically update predicted values

sc5 — Mon, 06 May 2024 01:23:43 GMT

These links are very helpful, thank you! I'm currently on a trial version of SAS VIYA and I'm having some issues getting the examples to work, though.

e.g. HelloSmallWorld.
When I try to replace <your.host.name> with the trial environment URL in the examples from those links, it can't find the link.

My trial url looks like "https://<trial.host>.my-trials.sas.com/".

I can only create folders under sasdrive -> users -> <email address> -> my folder.

So I've created a folder /users/<email address>/my folder/github where I've unzipped the examples in those links.

But when I try to replace <your.host.name/github> in the html job form with "<trial.host>.my-trials.sas.com/users/<email address>/my folder/github" as instructed, and create my report, I get the error below in the DDC object.

Is there some other way I should be linking to files in the trial environment?

Thank you!

@Renato_sas @Stu_SAS

Re: Linear regression | dynamically update predicted values

sc5 — Fri, 03 May 2024 09:03:16 GMT

Hi @Stu_SAS, thank you for replying!

Do you know if I can feed data from a report (filtered by list controls) as an input to a stored job/process and display the outputs back in the report?

i.e. if I save a proc reg script / macro somewhere, can I then trigger it with a button in the report to run the regression on the data (as filtered at that instant in the report) and output the coefficients or predicted values to a dataset that can then be refreshed in the report?

E.g. Below is an example in Excel where I select the slicers and the regression values change instantly in the table (2 screenshots)

In Excel this is pretty simple for 1-D regressions with the formulas = intercept() and =slope() on the data columns.

I'd be happy to try a more complex workaround in SAS VIYA if it's possible to store a script somewhere that can be made to act on data filtered at any moment in a report though, since I could then use this to do more complex analysis than what's possible in Excel.

Thank you!

Linear regression | dynamically update predicted values

sc5 — Thu, 02 May 2024 00:21:38 GMT

I have a report (e.g. below) where a set of list controls control the data used in the scatter plot and a simple univariate linear regression.

The table below has some reference x values, and the "Predicted" column is derived from the linear regression (right click on object, "Derive predicted", and included as an item in the dataset, avg. aggregation.)

The linear regression itself updates whenever I select/deselect any item in the controls.

But the 'Predicted' values are the values from the initial version of the regression from which I created the field.

Is there any way to get the predicted y values from the regression updating dynamically and displayed in the report below? It should change whenever I change the list control selection.

I just want the report viewer to be able to see the estimated y values at certain x values as they slice data in different combinations.

Thank you!

Dynamic Calculations from sliced data

sc5 — Wed, 01 May 2024 06:21:20 GMT

Hi,

Is there a way I can access the coefficients of a linear fit through a scatter plot and use it in calculations displayed in a report?

E.g. I have 2 scatter plots, both controlled by a set of List controls. Every time I change the list selection, the data displayed and the fit lines on both plots change.

is there any way to display a table (example below) with the difference between the calculated y-values from both fit lines at certain x-values?

This table would dynamically update every time the list control selection changes, and it would be displayed on the main report page.

Essentially, are the intercept, slope and R-square stored anywhere as objects I can reference? Like can I create a parameter as @chartobject.slope or something?

I can see them when I maximise the chart object, but I don't see a way to display them dynamically updating as part of the main report page.

In Excel this is easy with pivot tables. Slicers control charts connected to the pivot tables, and formulas =intercept(<y_col>,,x_col>), =slope(<y_col>,,x_col>) capture the trendline dynamically in cells anywhere I want.

I don't want to have to export a regression / run code / refresh the report / etc., the aim is just to do some quick interactive analysis in the report as we slice data on-the-fly.

Thank you!

VIYA Visual Analytics - Access Fit line coefficients

sc5 — Wed, 01 May 2024 06:14:02 GMT

Hi,

Is there a way I can access the coefficients of a linear fit through a scatter plot and use it in calculations displayed in a report?

E.g. I have 2 scatter plots, both controlled by a set of List controls. Every time I change the list selection, the data displayed and the fit lines on both plots change.

is there any way to display a table (example below) with the difference between the calculated y-values from both fit lines at certain x-values?

This table would dynamically update every time the list control selection changes, and it would be displayed on the main report page.

Essentially, are the intercept, slope and R-square stored anywhere as objects I can reference? Like can I create a parameter as @chartobject.slope or something?

I can see them when I maximise the chart object, but I don't see a way to display them dynamically updating as part of the main report page.

Access fit line coefficients

sc5 — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 14:29:44 GMT

Hi,

Is there a way I can access the coefficients of a linear fit through a scatter plot and use it in calculations displayed in a report?

E.g. I have 2 scatter plots, both controlled by a set of List controls. Every time I change the list selection, the data displayed and the fit lines on both plots change.

is there any way to display a table with the difference between the calculated y-values from both fit lines at certain x-values?

This table would dynamically update every time the list control selection changes, and it would be displayed on the main report page.

Essentially, are the intercept, slope and R-square stored anywhere as objects I can reference? Like can I create a parameter as @chartobject.slope or something?

I can see them when I maximise the chart object, but I don't see a way to display them dynamically updating as part of the main report page.

Re: Proc Format Invalue regex hierarchy

sc5 — Wed, 03 May 2023 07:57:37 GMT

Ooh ok I didn't know we could do that, thank you!

Re: Proc Format Invalue regex hierarchy

sc5 — Wed, 03 May 2023 07:55:53 GMT

This seems to work, thanks a lot!

Proc Format Invalue regex hierarchy

sc5 — Wed, 03 May 2023 07:21:08 GMT

Hi,

Is there a way to use proc format with regex so that it sequentially evaluates conditions in the order given?

Example:

proc format;
	invalue $Fr
	"s/(.*)(PELICA|UNDEREDS|GRASSHOP)(.*)/PELICA/i"	(regexpe) = _same_
	"s/(.*)(DEATHS|DT|CID)(.*)/DEATHS/i"	(regexpe) = _same_
	"s/(.*)(GRA)(.*)/LLL/i"	(regexpe) = _same_
	"s/(.*)(EMPRE)(.*)/EMPRESSS/i"	(regexpe) = _same_
	other = ''
	;
quit;
data fruit;
	length fruit $50. ;
	infile cards dsd dlm='>' truncover;
	input fruit ;
	cards;
	DEATHS
	PELICA
	PRIZEDE UNDEREDS/EMPRESSS
	GRASSHOP
	GRAMS
run;
data fruit2;
	set fruit;
	fruitset=input(fruit,$Fr.);
run;

The output is

But I want the output to be:

i.e. I want the conditions in proc format to be evaluated in the order given. The 3rd row matches the 1st regex condition (the word 'UNDEREDS'), so the output should be PELICA, not EMPRESSS. I only want the output to be EMPRESSS if the conditions before are not met.

Any idea how I can achieve this? Or is there another way I can format strings based on patterns in a specific order of preference? Worst case I'll resort to if-then conditions, but I have a lot of columns to parse with a lot of conditions, and a huge dataset, so I'm trying to do it in a more modular/elegant way.

Thank you!