Carpenter's Complete Guide to the SAS Macro Language, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Art Carpenter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 2004

Art Carpenter thoroughly updates his successful first edition with an extensive collection of new examples and techniques. Addressing the composition and operation of the SAS macro facility and the SAS macro language, Carpenter's Complete Guide to the SAS Macro Language, Second Edition, is filled with ready-to-use macros, macro functions, and macro tools that will enable you to effortlessly convert SAS code to macros, define macro variables, and more! New topics include writing user interfaces with %WINDOW, using SYSPARM and SYSPBUFF, using CALL EXECUTE, deleting macro variables using %SYMDEL, using macro recursion, and creating your own macro functions. Also included are new SAS(r) 9 features such as statements that include %ABORT and %RETURN, system options for the macro language, macro functions, autocall library macros, and code recovery options for compiled stored macro libraries. Many topics from the first edition have been expanded. Whether you're a new user with a basic understanding of Base SAS or an experienced programmer in need of an advanced reference manual, this is the macro book you've been searching for!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Art Carpenter has been hard at work since his first edition was published in 1998. He has added enough new material to double the size of his original work. Many more complex ideas of macro usage are illustrated here, with diverse topics brought together and discussed as whole concepts. I would recommend this book to beginners as well as advanced programmers who wish to be proficient in their usage of the simple yet powerful SAS macro language. --Ronald Fehd, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Art has once again written a fantastic SAS book. It is very complete in its coverage of the macro language, covering everything from the basics to advanced topics. It makes an excellent reference book with its clear layout. I would highly recommend it particularly to experienced SAS programmers who want a complete macro reference which extends to cover advanced topics. I wrote the "Advanced Macro Programming" course for SAS UK, and this would make a perfect companion to that course. In short, it's a fantastic book and contains plenty of new material compared to his first. It will surely pay for itself in no time. --Philip Mason, Wood Street Consultants

Having used SAS for 25 plus years, I can honestly say I am always amazed at what I learn from reading SAS Press titles and the little things I may have overlooked or forgotten. Art did an excellent job writing this book with plenty of good examples and well-documented bullets and callouts of each step within his examples. He has also included a number of good macros that could be used by any SAS developer and incorporate them into their library of tools. This is a must-have book for the serious SAS developer who wishes to use and learn the SAS macro language. --Charles Patridge, The Hartford Financial Service

About the Author

Art Carpenter, an independent consultant and statistician, has been a SAS user since the mid-1970s. He provides training and instruction on the SAS macro language and other SAS topics to SAS users nationwide. In addition to being the general editor of the Art Carpenter SAS Software Series, his impressive list of publications includes Annotate: Simply the Basics, his co-authored Quick Results with SAS/GRAPH Software, two chapters in Reporting from the Field, and over four dozen papers and posters presented at the SAS Users Group International (SUGI) conference and various regional and international SAS Users Group conferences.

Art has served as a steering committee chairperson of both the Southern California SAS Users Group (SoCalSUG) and the San Diego SAS Users Group (SANDS) conferences. He has also served as a conference co-chair of the Western Users of SAS Software (WUSS) conference, and conference chair and Executive Board member at SUGI.

Product Details

• Paperback: 385 pages
• Publisher: SAS Publishing; 2nd edition (March 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590473841
• ISBN-13: 978-1590473849
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't write macros without it!, January 6, 2005

By 

Robert A. Rutledge (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carpenter's Complete Guide to the SAS Macro Language, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

The definitive text by a recognized expert. I bought the first edition several years ago and immediately discovered how to resolve a macro problem that was stopping my progress. The book paid for itself in the first 5 minutes! Got the 2nd Edition a few weeks ago and quickly discovered ways to do two different things I didn't even know were possible. That's at least a 5X ROI so far, and I've only skimmed through a few pages so far.

Don't write code without it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A breath of fresh air for beginners!, August 29, 2008

By 

M Gemmill-Toyama ""Author in the making"" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carpenter's Complete Guide to the SAS Macro Language, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

I use SAS for work occasionally, and I have always struggled a little to get my head around macros. This book was great for the sometimes struggling SAS programmer like me. I liked how he started by explaining macros, pointing out extremely useful syntax tips like double quotes versus single quotes (as those who work with programs like SAS and STATA know, syntax can sometimes be the bane of our existence).

Importantly, if you struggle with macros, read the book from the beginning - he gradually builds the use of macros from there.

(Note: I posted a similar review to this on the UK amazon site).

5.0 out of 5 stars Extend any SAS procedure using the SAS Macro Language, January 21, 2012

By 

Chuck Enright - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carpenter's Complete Guide to the SAS Macro Language, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Art Carpenter goes beyond basic macro usage in this publication. Learn how to expose your data and environment with the use of macro variables and functions, then control program flow. Now I plan each datastep and procedure to be used with reusable macro programming. I'm looking forward to using Art's next publication covering advanced techniques.