I'm using the X statement to execute a Python script(*.py) towards the end of a long SAS program.    This may be a Python or Windows question, but is it possible to have the Command window launch minimized, or otherwise keep it from "stealing" focus? Because the SAS script is long-running, I may be working in another application by the time X executes, so the window is an interruption (or worse, if it captures inadvertent keystrokes).   Suggestions?     OPTIONS XWAIT XSYNC; X "C:\PATHWAY\SCRIPT.PY &ARG1 &ARG2 "; ... View more

I'm using a macro I found online to create Windows directories on my local disk. It's failing if the directory name contains hyphens.   Can explain what is going on?   Here's the problematic code (source) %MACRO makeDirectory(DIR=); %LET COUNT=0; %LET DLM=\; %IF %SUBSTR(&DIR,%LENGTH(&DIR),1) NE &DLM %THEN %DO; %LET DIR=&DIR&DLM; %END; %DO J=1 %TO %LENGTH(&DIR); %IF %SUBSTR(&DIR,&J,1)=&DLM %THEN %DO; %LET COUNT=%EVAL(&COUNT+1); %END; %END; %LET DRIVE=%SUBSTR(&DIR,1,3); %LET LEVEL=&DRIVE; %DO I=2 %TO &COUNT; %LET WORD=%SCAN(&DIR,&I,&DLM); %LET LNEW=&LEVEL&WORD&DLM; data _null_; rc=filename('newdir',"&lnew"); c=dopen('newdir'); if c=0 then new=dcreate("&word","&level"); run; %LET LEVEL=&LNEW; %END; %MEND; /* this will fail */ %makeDirectory(Dir=C:\TEMP\WITH-HYPHENS);   Here's the error from the log: SYMBOLGEN: Macro variable DIR resolves to C:\TEMP\WITH-HYPHEN\ SYMBOLGEN: Macro variable J resolves to 13 ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required. The condition was: %SUBSTR(&DIR,&J,1)=&DLM SYMBOLGEN: Macro variable DLM resolves to \ ERROR: The macro MAKEDIRECTORY will stop executing. Thanks! ... View more

I have a macro for which I would like to use an alternative "work" library, to avoid any potential for collisions with datasets not associated with the macro. There could even be multiple instances of the macro running simultaneously within the same SAS session, or in separate sessions.   Currently this is the solution I'm considering:   libname macwork 'c:\temp\randomletters';   The downside is I need to manage the directory c:\temp\randomletters'. I know this can be done in SAS by creating a random string, then creating the directory, then mounting the library, and (hopefully) deleting the directory afterwards, however this seems like reinventing the wheel. The normal WORK library already handles all of this: &address always has an element of randomness:   %let address = %sysfunc(pathname(WORK)); %put &address;     Is it possible to establish additional "work" libraries in the same SAS session which would have unique names?     ... View more

I have a macro which, when executed, sets a global variable (named &SearchResult) to a 1 or 0. I would instead prefer the macro itself evaluate to 1 or 0, without having to set a global variable.   BTW - this will be used for program control. The macro is checking whether a log file contains the word SUCCESS, and if so, the main program is allowed to continue processing.   Here is what I have now: %macro CheckFileForString(FilenameAndPath=, SearchString=); %global SearchResult; %let SearchResult = 0; /* default unless the string is found */ /* scan FilenameAndPath for SearchString */ filename finp ("&FilenameAndPath"); data result; infile finp filename = _filepath truncover; input a_line $1000.; /* read first 1000 bytes of each line */ if find(a_line,"&SearchString") then do;  call symput('SearchResult',1); /* set the return code */ end; run; %mend; %macro main_program; /* search a log file for the string SUCCESS */ %CheckFileForString(FilenameAndPath=C:\TEMP\LOGFILE.LOG, SearchString= SUCCESS); %IF &SearchResult = 1 %THEN %PUT NOTE: Processing can continue; %ELSE %PUT ERROR: The log file does not contain the word SUCCESS. Processing must halt; %mend; %main_program; Here is how I would prefer to setup %main_program. %CheckFileForString needs to evaluate to a 1 or 0, but I'm not sure how to accomplish that. %macro main_program; /* check if a log file contains the word SUCCESS */ %IF %CheckFileForString(FilenameAndPath=C:\TEMP\LCM_PYLOG.LOG, SearchString= SUCCESS) = 1 %THEN %PUT NOTE: Processing can continue; %ELSE %PUT ERROR: The log file does not contain the word SUCCESS. Processing must halt; %mend; %main_program;   ... View more