TU15
SAS Software Macros- You're Only Limited by Your Imagination, Part II; More Advanced Techniques
    Invited
Peter Parker
Office of Textiles and Apparel,
US Dept. of Commerce
Abstract:
SAS software macros provides the flexibility to perform advanced programming techniques such as receiving real-time user-entered parameters to determine which blocks of code will run and how often. In my previous paper (Part I), I described how to use thes
e techniques to write more elegant code. In this paper, I will show how to apply these techniques to read multiple external files based on a user query. Specifically, I will use a real life application and show how it was implemented, using a tightly w
ritten program comprised of macros. I needed to determine how often the public accessed the files on my web server. Through iterations of programs that were the evolution of a thought process, I have developed SAS programs that read the web server's log fi
les based on the time periods requested in an interactive SAS macro window. These programs can generate a summarized report of web usage. This paper is a learning tool for the professional programmer on conceiving and generating a computer program, usi
ng SAS Base and macro software. Those who also want to track hits to their web servers will find this information useful.
Biography:
Peter Parker has been programming since 1979, mostly in SAS software. He runs a computer operation for the U.S. Department of Commerce. As well, he runs a consulting firm, Perfect Programmer Enterprises, where he provides programming, office automation a
nd applications development support. He
has BA and MA degrees in Economics. He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and is certified in Lotus Notes/Domino. He has presented other papers for SAS conferences (for more details-
ttp://www.Perfec
tProgrammer.com).