What This Document Is
This document presents introductory notes on SAS macros, a powerful feature within the SAS programming language. It’s designed as a foundational resource for understanding how to extend and customize SAS code, moving beyond standard procedures to create more efficient and reusable programming solutions. The notes cover the core concepts needed to begin working with macros, focusing on their purpose and basic structure within a SAS environment. It appears to be lecture notes from a STAT 6800 course at Western Michigan University.
Why This Document Matters
Students enrolled in statistics courses, particularly those utilizing SAS for data analysis, will find this resource invaluable. It’s especially helpful for anyone looking to streamline repetitive tasks, improve code organization, and develop more robust and adaptable SAS programs. If you're facing challenges with lengthy or redundant code, or need to maintain consistency across multiple analyses, understanding SAS macros is crucial. This material is best used early in a SAS programming curriculum, or as a reference when first encountering the need for code customization.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document focuses on the *introduction* to SAS macros. It does not delve into advanced macro techniques, complex logic, or debugging strategies. It will not provide ready-made macro solutions for specific statistical problems, nor does it cover the integration of macros with SAS/GRAPH or other advanced SAS modules. The notes are a starting point, and further study will be required to master the full capabilities of SAS macros. It assumes a basic familiarity with SAS programming fundamentals.
What This Document Provides
* An overview of the fundamental purpose and benefits of using SAS macros.
* An explanation of the key components involved in defining and executing macro code.
* Discussion of the special characters essential for working with macros.
* An outline of the basic syntax used in macro statements.
* Consideration of the advantages of using macros for code customization and efficiency.
