Custom tasks .net version for EG6.1 - Documentation

[LarrryHoyle]

I have Chris Hemedinger's very useful book, but find the need for reference documentation on the objects and methods in

SAS.Tasks.Toolkit;

SAS.Shared.AddIns;

Is there documentation somewhere?

My particular question of the moment is: is there a method to disconnect from the active dataset? I would like to be able to submit a PROC DATASETS on the active dataset to modify extended attributes, but of course, if it is still active PROC DATASETS can't modify it.

[ChrisHemedinger]

Hi Larry,

The reference doc for 6.1 is not changed from 5.1, so you should be able to use all of the same techniques, file references, etc -- just point to your 6.1 DLLs.

As far as your question -- it's true that EG can hold a data set "open" while you are displaying the task that uses it as input.  One approach around this is to change your task so that the [InputRequired] attribute is set to None.  Then, within your task, require the user to select/specify a data source.  Then use the SasData classes to retrieve information about the data set as needed.

Does that make sense?

Chris

[LarrryHoyle]

Thanks. Yes that all makes sense.

[ChrisHemedinger]

Oh, and the reference documentation (essentially the same since EG 4.2) is available here.  It's a ZIP file that has CHM file in it.  Unzip it and then don't forget to right-click on the CHM, select Properties, and then Unblock the file.  Otherwise Windows will not allow you to unlock its secrets.