SASEGScripting - entering parameter values in VB.Net

[jchamrad]

I’m writing a VB.Net program that uses SASEGScripting to populate parameter values and run SAS EG projects. The particular project I’m using for testing contains three different parameter types: “ProjectParamTypeString(5)”, "ProjectParamTypeString(0)", and "ProjectParamTypeDate(0)".

"ProjectParamTypeString(5)" is easy enough, I simply assign a string value to Project.Parameter(i).Value. How do I assign values to the other two types? Is there some documentation on ProjectParamTypes and how to use them in .Net?

[jchamrad]

In this case, “ProjectParamTypeString(5)” is a list of strings and "ProjectParamTypeDate(0)" is a date range.

[jchamrad]

Correction: “ProjectParamTypeString(0)” is a list of strings

[AlanC]

Please post a section of code so it provides some context. I use C# but might be able to help if I can see the context that you are referring to.

[jchamrad]

Here's the code where I fill in parameters. I'm able to fill in the simple strings but not the date ranges and string lists. I expect there are underlying object types for each but I haven't been able to discover what they are.

Private Sub FillParams(ByRef params As SAS.EG.Scripting.ProjectParameterList)
For Each prm As SAS.EG.Scripting.ProjectParameter In params
Debug.WriteLine(prm.Name & " " & prm.Type.ToString & "(" & prm.Type & ")")
Select Case prm.Name
Case "uid" ' ProjectParmTypeString(5)
prm.Value = My.Settings.GalaxyUser
Case "upw_PASSWORD" ' ProjectParmTypeString(5)
prm.Value = My.Settings.GalaxyPw
Case "CSN" ' ProjectParmTypeString(5)
prm.Value = "'000188335'"
Case "PD_DT" ' ProjectParmTypeDate(0)
' Date range: From Date and Thru Date
' prm.Value = ?
Case "SVC_DT" ' ProjectParmTypeDate(0)
' Date range: From Date and Thru Date
' prm.Value = ?
Case "MY_NAME" ' ProjectParmTypeString(5)
prm.Value = "Lulu"
Case "DATABASE_SELECTION" ' ProjectParmTypeString(5)
' List of strings: "ABC","DEF","GHI"
' prm.Value = ?
End Select
Next
End Sub

[jchamrad]

Sorry, it re-formatted the code when I posted the reply.

[AlanC]

EG is written (a lot) in C#. FRirst of all, I suggest using C# in .NET vs VB.NET: it will make your life easier...and is a better language IMO.

Let's take a look at one piece of code in your program (converted to C#): 

            // Date range: From Date and Thru Date
            // prm.Value = ?
            case "SVC_DT": // ProjectParmTypeDate(0)
                {
                    break;
                }

The type is Date so it expects a date. .NET does not have a Date type so you need to use  a DateTime value. Hence, it needs to either be cast or converted. Sample C# code:

prm.Value = (DateTime) ProjectParmTypeDate(0);

...or...
prm.Value = DateTime.Parse(ProjectParmTypeDate(0));

The right-hand side of the equals sign needs to match the type on the left. .NET (VB or C#), are strongly typed languages. if you are getting your parms as strings, they don't fit inside of a DateTime.

[jchamrad]

I've been digging a little deeper and find that I may be asking the wrong question. In this particular project, the Parameters property of the Project object contains an entry named ‘PD_DT’. Turns out that ‘PD_DT’ refers to a Prompt. This prompt is defined as a ‘Date range’ with range type of ‘Custom’. In SAS EG, users are prompted for ‘From’ and ‘To’ dates. Where can I find this prompt in the Project object so I can enter the ‘From’ and ‘To’ dates programmatically ?