Date:         Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:00:54 -0400
Reply-To:     Joe Whitehurst <joewhitehurst@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Joe Whitehurst <joewhitehurst@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: SCL Questions (hijacked thread)
Comments: To: toby dunn <tobydunn@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY101-F1135A3B343818992A1BB4ADE650@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Doug

Let's assume Toby has read Kevin's mind correctly and Toby's example
is in fact what Kevin had in mind.  If I understand correctly, the
example merely tests the denominator for a zero condition and performs
the division only if the denominator is not zero.  I think even  those
unfamiliar with SAS Component Language realize that the macro is
pointless.  It adds no functionality to a simple if statement:

IF DENOM^=0 THEN FOO=NUMER/DENOM ;

But for those literally minded folks who insist on seeing SCL code
with the same functionality here is the equivalent pointless SCL code:

init:
dcl num denom foo numer,
     char(80) divide;;
divide='IF DENOM^=0 THEN FOO=NUMER/DENOM ;';
submit continue;
     data foo;
     set foo;
     &divide;
    run;
endsubmit;
return;

Even though pointless as regards functionality, it does serve the
purpose of showing how much simpler even pointless code is than
functionally equvalent  Antiquated Macro Language.code.

Joe Pointless

On 7/24/06, toby dunn <tobydunn@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Doug ,
>
> I think this is what Kevin had in mind:
>
> %Macro Divide( Numer = , Denom = ) ;
>
> %If ( &Denom = 0 ) %Then %Do ;
>  0
> %End ;
> %Else %Do ;
>  %SysEvalF( &Numer / &Denom )
> %End ;
>
> %Mend Divide ;
>
>
>
> Data Foo ;
> Set Foo ;
> Foo = Resolve( '%pdiv( Numer = ' || var1 || ' , Denom = ' || var2 || ' ) ' )
> ;
> Run ;
>
>
>
>
>
> Toby Dunn
>
> 'They say that Spanish is the Language of Love,
> I Loved the way it rolled off of her tongue'
>
> 'I dont know what she said but I loved the way she said it'
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Doug Rohde <drohde01@COMCAST.NET>
> Reply-To: Doug Rohde <drohde01@COMCAST.NET>
> To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: SCL Questions (hijacked thread)
> Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 10:24:31 -0400
>
> I don't know if this is what Kevin had in mind, but this is the sort of
> pseudo-function I use for protected division (or log, or sqrt, etc.):
>
> %macro pdiv(newvar,num,denom,default = 0);
> if &denom = 0 then &newvar = &default;
> else &newvar = &num / &denom;
> %mend;
>
> Then of course I just call it like this:
>
> data foo; set foo;
> %pdiv(foo,var1,var2);
> run;
>
> I am interested to see how something like this is implemented in SCL.
> Thanks.
>
> Doug R
>
> On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 11:47:40 -0400, Joe Whitehurst
> <joewhitehurst@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
>  >Kevin,
>  >
>  >I have just been trying to douse some of the enthusiasm with which
>  >some MMMMs have been trying to promote the use of the Antiquated Macro
>  >Language, and I believe I have had some small success!  Some of the
>  >MMMMs at least now mention SCL sort of as an afterthought when
>  >suggesting alternative solutions to questions posted by obvious
>  >neophytes.  I understand and often use the Antiquated Macro Language
>  >to generate SCL code.  But, I have not seen a datastep pseudo function
>  >created by the Antiquated Macro Language that I could not create with
>  >SCL.  Do you have an example handy?
>  >
>  >Joe
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >>
>  >> I don't personally agree with Joe's "religious persecution" of macro in
>  >> favor of SCL.  I even know of a few a things that macro can do which SCL
>  >> cannot do as well (for instance, you can use macros to effectively
> create
>  >> custom data step functions and even generate SCL code
>