HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: macq@miguel.llnl.gov (Don MacQueen)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Subject: Re: Numeric Substr ?
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:25:40 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

In article <SAS-L%92081114401218@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>, HIS@NIHCU.BITNET (Howard Schreier) writes:
|> CONTENT:  Response
|> SUMMARY:  Automatic num->char conversions use BEST12.
|> 
|> > I am trying to use SUBSTR function on "numeric" data field. It works
|> > okay if I define the data as a "character" field. But gives me
|> > incorrect value when its defined as numeric field. Here is the program
|> > I ran defining the variable as numeric filed:
|> >
|> > 1          DATA A;
|> > 2             INPUT X 1-10;
|> > 3             CARDS;
|> > 7          ;
|> > 8          DATA B; SET A;
|> > 9            Y=SUBSTR(X,6,3);
|> >
|> > NOTE: NUMERIC VALUES HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO CHARACTER VALUES AT THE
|> > PLACES GIVEN BY: (LINE):(COLUMN).
|> > NOTE: THE DATA SET WORK.B HAS 3 OBSERVATIONS AND 2 VARIABLES.
|> > 10         PROC PRINT;
|> > THE SAS SYSTEM               11:08 TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1992   1
|> >
|> >                        OBS         X         Y
|> >
|> >                        1     1992809999    280
|> >                        2     1992808888    280
|> >                        3     1992807777    280
|> 
|> Explanation:  the conversion from numeric  to  character  is
|> done with a BEST12.  format (see SAS Lang.  Ref. V.6 1st Ed.
|> p. 116).  The BEST12.  representation of a 10-place  integer
|> is  two  blanks  followed  by  the  ten  digits.   The sixth
|> character of this string is the fourth digit of the original
|> number.
|> 
|> Solution:  don't do this.  Read the  field  initially  as  a
|> character variable, or make the conversion explicitly:
|> 
|>    Y=SUBSTR(put(X,Z10.),6,3);
|> 
|> /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
|> \   Howard Schreier, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Washington    /
|> /                     MVS 5.18 & 6.07                      \
|> \   Voice: (202) 377-4180        BITNET: HIS@NIHCU         /
|> /   Fax:   (202) 377-4614      INTERNET: HIS@CU.NIH.GOV    \
|> \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

May I add the suggestion to use the compress() function in
addition or instead of the put() function, to avoid the
assumption that the numbers are always 10 digits long?
-- 
---------------------------------------------------
Don MacQueen                   macq@miguel.llnl.gov
Lawrence Livermore Nat. Lab.
7000 East Ave., L-307          (510) 423-1062
Livermore, CA 94550
---------------------------------------------------
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Thu, 20 Aug 1992 12:17:56 -0400
Reply-To:     "Gary G. Gu" <ggu@CHPC.ORG>
From:         "Gary G. Gu" <ggu@CHPC.ORG>
Subject:      How do I position the windows in fixed locations?

This is for a friend of mine who needs help in using SAS under X.
She would like to be able to control the positions of
the OUTPUT, EDIT and other windows. How can this be done?
I thought one could use the resources and put them in .Xdefault,
but what are the resource names?
I've tried things like:
sas*output*geometry: 20x30

But no luck. No SAS docs she has documented how to do this. Please
help. Thank you very much.

By the way, the workstation is DEC 3100, running Mwm. X11R4.
Thank you in anticipation.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Thu, 20 Aug 1992 11:12:49 EDT
Reply-To:     "Necia A. Black" <BLACK@UBVM.BITNET>
Comments:     Resent-From: "Necia A. Black" <BLACK@UBVM>
Comments:     Originally-From: phillips@acsu.buffalo.edu (Gretchen Phillips)
From:         "Necia A. Black" <BLACK@UBVM.BITNET>
Subject:      more recent maps

In the last few days I saw someone post a note on having a unified Germany
map set with an inquiry about others.  I have not seen, or I missed any reply
to that.  I did not save the message.  Today I received the following note
from one of our managers.  Can anyone remind me of the posting on the
Germany map and answer her questin on other maps?
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Do you know if it is possible to get newer maps than the set
that I have (they are about 2 years old).
In particular, I am interested in maps with unified Germany, the
Baltics and the correct boundries of the former Soviet state.

Does SAS produce periodic updates to the maps?
	Gretchen
Thank,
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X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.2 PL16]
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 18:32:57 CDT
Reply-To:     "R. Snyder" <rsnyder@LOBBY.TI.COM>
From:         "R. Snyder" <rsnyder@LOBBY.TI.COM>
Subject:      Re: I need help with SQL
Comments: To: glg2@GTE.COM
Comments: cc: sas-l@uga.cc.uga.edu
              92 4:37 pm

CONTENT:   Reply to: "I need help with SQL"
SUMMARY:   Use 'group by' and 'sum' function
E-ADDR:    rsnyder@lobby.ti.com
NAME:      Bob Snyder
COMPANY:   Texas Instruments, Sherman, TX
PHONE:     (903) 868-5799
FAX:       (903) 868-7240

Gail Gill writes:
>
> Hello fellow sas-lers,
>   I need some help with using sql.
> The problem is as follows:
>
> My data was entered with multiple records for the same customer,
> I need to modify it.
> It resides as the following:
>
> Cust   item   cost
>  1      A      V
>  1      A      V
>  1      A      V
>  1      B      W
>  1      B      W
>  2      A      V
>  2      C      X
>  2      D      Y
>  2      E      Z
> and so forth.
>
>  What I would like to get is the following:
>
> Cust   item   cost
>  1      A     3*V
>  1      B     2*W
>  2      A      V
>  2      C      X
>  2      D      Y
>  2      E      Z
> and so forth.
>
> Thanks in advance for your assistance.
> Gail Gill
>
Gail,

Try the following:

data sasuser.gailgill;

  length Cust 8 item $ 1 cost 8;

  format cost dollar7.2;

  input Cust item cost;

cards;
 1      A      2.00
 1      A      2.00
 1      A      2.00
 1      B      6.00
 1      B      6.00
 2      A      2.00
 2      C      4.00
 2      D      5.00
 2      E      7.00
;

run;

proc sql;
  select cust, item, put( sum(cost), dollar7.2 ) as cost
    from sasuser.gailgill
      group by cust,item;

============================== OUTPUT ===========================

    CUST  ITEM  COST
   -----------------------
     1  A       $6.00
     1  B      $12.00
     2  A       $2.00
     2  C       $4.00
     2  D       $5.00
     2  E       $7.00

Hope this gets it for you!

Bob
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Original_To:  BITNET%"sas-l@uga"
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Tue, 18 Aug 1992 16:20:00 EDT
Reply-To:     HOGE@CUA.BITNET
From:         HOGE@CUA.BITNET
Subject:      Convert, merge and compress

I got a lot of informative and very helpful suggestions from many
people.  I like to say thanks to:

Melvin Klassen KLASSEN@UVVM
Tom Abernathy TOM@MSVAX.MSSM.EDU
Wang, Qin GR3461@siucvmb.siu.edu
Don MacQueen macq@migual.lln.gov
Arnold Schick Schick@DMRHRZLL
Howard Schreier BOKERSON@MEMSTVX1
Steve James SPJ1@CEHIEC1.EM.CDC.GOV
Phil Wood PSYWOOD@MIZZOU1

I used these solutions to my questions:

>1. I need to read a portable sas data file and save it to a SAS DATA FILE.

        engine as XPORT

>   This is a huge file.  I actually need 1/4 of the variables only.
>   How can I save this subset of data file in this step?

        use (KEEP=VAR1 .... VAR100)

>2. I need to convert CHARACTER variables into NUMERICAL variables while
>   re-code every value of '-' or '&' into missing.  In SPSS, the command
>   is    RECODE VARA (CONVERT) '-'=99 '&'=99 INTO VARB
>   Is there an equavalent command in SAS?

        IF VAR1='&' OR VAR1='-' THEN VAR2=.; ELSE VAR2=INPUT(VAR1.4.);

>3. I have another data set in SPSS system format.  I need to 'merge'
>   or 'match' this file with the subset of the SAS DATA FILE.  The
>   matching variable is IDC.  How do I do this?

        read the file using engine SPSS
        sort two files by IDC
        merge two files by IDC.


for the questions about compress a data file so that save some space:

>1: When I convert a character variable into a numerical variable,
>how can I control the variable length?

        LENGTH _ALL_ 2 IDCODE 4 INCOME 6;

>Question 2:  when I import a SPSS SYSTEM FILE and save it as a
>SAS DATA FILE, the size increased about three times larger.  When
>I save it as a SAS DATA FILE, how can I save it as compressed?

        **** I couldn't figure out how can I save a
        SAS DATA FILE in compressed form.  Still open
        for any help.  Simple examples are appreciated.*****

Thank you again for all who responded to me.

Fenggang Yang
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Tue, 18 Aug 1992 13:42:38 MST
Reply-To:     babb@VNET.IBM.COM
From:         babb@VNET.IBM.COM
Subject:      Data transfer to EXCEL
Comments: To: sas-l@uga.cc.uga.edu

Greg Nelson writes:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Does anyone have any experience in working with transferring data from
a SAS dataset to a lotus or Excel file?  I know that there was a
meeting of the BASAS last spring that dealt with what I think is the
same topic.  If anyone has worked with this or perhaps Claire is
listening, please let me know...

Thanks in advance...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Greg Nelson                       Bitnet:  gnelson@uga
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Interesting that you should bring this up just now. I was deeply
involved in testing a new installation here that uses the DDE interface
in OS/2 2.0 to do just that. Without any file conversion or intermediate
trickery the DDE facility allows SAS under OS/2 to write and read data
and drive EXCEL with commands. There is a set of examples in the
BASE\SAMPLES directory called DDE1.SAS through DDE6.SAS. I think you'll
find them informative.

Bill Babb                      \|/
SAS Consultant (TEAM OS/2)    --O-- Arizona.
ADSTAR Tucson  (IBM)           /|\
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 10:07:16 IST
Reply-To:     "Nathan Mamias" <CVRGING@TECHNION.BITNET>
From:         "Nathan Mamias" <CVRGING@TECHNION.BITNET>
Subject:      Miki and IBM3179G

Enclose is a quoting for IBM's reply to my qes. about the ability to connect
a mouse to an IBM3179G display station.
As was mentioned before, SAS 6.07+ supports the usage of the graphic editor
for this type of terminals.

I would appreciate any comment from anyone who have knowledge and expireance
about this combination. Also I would like to know wether IBM's MIKI is
supported by SAS/GRAPH graphic-editor.


Thanks.

(-)
Nathan Mamias
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
Bitnet:   CVRGING@TECHNION
Internet: CVRGING@TECHNION.TECHNION.AC.IL

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 There is an option to connect a mouse to 3179-g display.  Following is an
extract from the IBM sales manual regarding the subject.
 I hope it helps you.

Regards,
Michael Oran

============================================================================
 1.5  HIGHLIGHTS
 _______________
 o The  3179-G is  data stream  compatible with  today's 3270
   displays  in  alphanumeric  application  environments.  Most
   mainframe interactive  graphics applications that  run under
   GDDM Release 3 can be run  unchanged on the 3179-G with GDDM
   Release 4.

 o Allows  attachment of  one 3979  Expansion Unit.  The 3979
   extends  the configuration  capability to  connect one  5277
   Mouse,  one Printer  (3852 Model  2) and  one of  either the
   6180-2, 6184, 7371, or 7372 Color Plotters to the 3179 Model G.
   NOTE:  Must specify  printer  interface  cable

 o Selectable Field Tab key and Cursor Select key provide for
   selection oflight-pen detectable fields in lieu of a light-pen.

 o Improved cursor movement.  When cursor keys are depressed,
   the  cursor  accelerates.  Two cursor  types  are  provided:
   Alphanumeric and  graphic. Graphic  cursor (Cross  and Cross
   Hair) supports  PEL-level resolution. The 5277  Mouse may be
   used to  control both  alphanumeric and graphics  cursors on
   the  screen. The  graphics cursor  controlled by  the cursor
   positioning keys or the 5277 Mouse provides coordinate (x,y)
   input via the 3979 Expansion  Unit. 6342058) for the Printer
   (3852 Model 2). Only one plotter may attach, specify IEEE488
   interface for 7371 or 7372 Plotter).
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center
Date: Friday, 21 Aug 1992 12:40:41 EDT
From: <EDSCC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Subject: TABULATE lines on a PC

Hi,
If this TABULATE information may is old stuff just consider it comes from
somone new to SAS.  TABULATE for the PC produces dotted lines (----) to
divide a table.  SPSSPC creates tables with full graphic lines (no spaces).
The people I give reports to have gotten used to the SPSSPC tables.  So
I found that if you give the FORMCHAR='B3C4DAC2BFC3C5C0C1D9'X option
in the PROC TABULATE you get full graphic lines displayed on a PC which has
the IBM graphics character set.  If you FILE 'prn:' the log to an HP Laser
print you get high order ASCII characters and not graphic lines.  However
if you save the log and open it in WordPerfect and set the margins to the
minimums, you get graphics tables you can edit and print. You probably
can do this in any word processing package that can handle graphics.
I hope this is useful.
Ed Silverman
CITY COLLEGE OF NY

Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 16:28:00 EDT
Reply-To:     "Philip Gallagher,(919)966-7275" <UPHILG@UNC.BITNET>
From:         "Philip Gallagher,(919)966-7275" <UPHILG@UNC.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: error bars in gchart (6.07)
Comments: To: Janice Winchell <WINCHELL@KENTVM.BITNET>

Re:  Jan Winchell's problem with error bars in gchart.



    Off the top of my head, 'cause it's Friday and you may need
    to get an answer to this before you leave for home.

    I had a problem last year - the error bars were calculated
    EXCLUDING ANY VALUES NOT ENCOMPASSED BY THE AXIS.  Since
    you most likely chose your axis limits based upon the best
    display of the MEANS and are probably not even displaying
    the individual values, quite possibly a lot of those individual
    values are not encompassed by a range that would display the
    means and are not being included in the error bar calculations.

    I vaguely remember that there is an option to prevent this from
    happening, but, as of some 16 months ago Jeff Abolafia had some
    programs that proved the option was not working as advertised.
    SI was supposed to be working on this, and, frankly, I really
    expect and hope that the fix is in and that your problem stems
    from another source.

    Nonetheless, if it is possible that this IS the source of your
    problem, hunt for it in the Usage Notes - I am sure it is there.
    And, if necessary, yap at SI - this should not still be a problem
    after all this time (and, as above, I expect it is fixed, I really
    do).  If they haven't fixed it by now, they deserve to be yapped at.

                      Phil Gallagher
                      uphilg@unc




> Anyone else out there finding discrepancies when attempting to use the
> errorbars option in 6.07 ?  We don't seem to be getting the correct values
> for the standard error of the mean.  Are we missing something or
> misinterpreting what gchart is supposed to be doing?
>
> We are talking sas 6.07 , ibm 4381 running vm/cms.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jan Winchell
> Systems Analyst
> Academic Computer Services
> Kent State University             BITNET:    WINCHELL@KENTVM
> Kent, Ohio   USA   44242          INTERNET:  WINCHELL@KENTVM.KENT.EDU
> 216-672-2736
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Acknowledge-To: <KENHARDY@UNCVM1>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 08:42:39 EDT
Reply-To:     Ken Hardy <KENHARDY@UNCVM1.BITNET>
From:         Ken Hardy <KENHARDY@UNCVM1.BITNET>
Subject:      SAS dataset to Lotus/Excel

In Reply to Greg Nelson's question regarding conversion of SAS files to
spreadsheet files:

Greg did not specify the platform the SAS file comes from, but we always
work with a PC SAS file and use a wonderful product called DBMS Copy to
convert the PC SAS file into whatever else we want. It's very flexible
and can convert PC SAS files to a variety of spreadsheet, data base and
statistical package file formats. Generally, DBMS Copy can convert almost any
data file format into most any other. If the original SAS file is on some
other platform, we generally put it in XPORT format, FTP it to a PC on our
NOVELL LAN, convert it into a PC SAS file and then use DBMS Copy.

DBMS Copy is available from SPSS Inc. (312) 329-2400.

*** Insert usual disclaimer about finacial interests here. ***

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
 Kenneth A. Hardy                          KHARDY.IRSS@MHS.UNC.EDU      
 Assoc. Dir. for Information Systems                  or                
 Inst. for Research in Social Science      KENHARDY@UNCVM1.BITNET       
 University of North Carolina                                           
 Manning Hall CB#3355                      Voice: 919-966-4791          
 Chapel Hill, N.C.  27599-3355             FAX:   919-962-IRSS          
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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X-Envelope-to: SAS-L@VTVM2.BITNET
X-VMS-To: IN%"SAS-L@VTVM2.BITNET"
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Wed, 19 Aug 1992 14:30:00 EST
Reply-To:     WHITMIR1@NIEHS.BITNET
From:         WHITMIR1@NIEHS.BITNET
Subject:      Re: SAS FUNCTIONS

Thanks you so much for the quick respond on SAS function question.
My program works well now
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Thu, 13 Aug 1992 07:37:58 -0500
Reply-To:     Kernon Gibes <gibes@SWIRL.MONSANTO.COM>
From:         Kernon Gibes <gibes@SWIRL.MONSANTO.COM>
Subject: Re: Macro variable naming conventions
Comments: To: SAS-L@uga.cc.uga.edu@tin.monsanto.com
Comments: cc: GIBES@tin.monsanto.com

 CONTENT:   Comment
 SUMMARY:   Who decides what's trivial?
 REL/PLTF:  <not applicable>
 E-ADDR:    gibes@swirl.monsanto.com
 NAME:      Kernon Gibes
 DATE:	    13 August 1992

 Regarding "Macro variable naming conventions", Richard Hockey writes:

>Who cares?
>Besides typing underscores is a pain, just about as bad as file names
>with mixed case in UNIX.

>I think this list should concentrate on matters which have a direct
>influence on improving SAS and result in a wider understanding and
>use of SAS.

 obviously Andy and Paul do (and I presume Howard as well?).  I think we
 might also guess that none of these professionals believe that such
 programming style ideas are of earth-shaking importance.  If the real
 owners of the list decide to ban trivial traffic someday, fine.  In the
 meantime, I think that it is easy enough for most of us to just delete
 any mail we're not interested in.  By the same logic, IMHO, Richard is
 entitled to his opinion; I just don't intend to follow his advise.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Envelope-to: sas-l@uga.BITNET
X-VMS-To: SMTP%"sas-l@uga"
X-VMS-Cc: AZPAB
MIME-version: 1.0
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Thu, 13 Aug 1992 15:32:53 -0700
Reply-To:     "Patrick Brooks" <AZPAB@ASUACVAX.BITNET>
From:         "Patrick Brooks" <AZPAB@ASUACVAX.BITNET>
Subject:      Help with PC SAS/Assist

Have a question for people using PC/SAS with Assist.

Is there a way to return to the procedure you have just
executed from the SAS/Assist?

A person I work with is using it and finds that after
a procedure has been submitted, they type 'AF' and
go back to the top level of Assist.

I have tried 'Back' and 'Prev' from the Program, Output or
Log windows and can get back to the previous screen.  Any
ideas?

Thanks in advance

Pat
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Patrick Brooks                     | Of making many books there is no
Bitnet:   AZPAB.ASUACVAX           | end, and much study is a weariness
Internet: AZPAB.ACVAX.INRE.ASU.EDU | of the flesh.
                                   |   -Qoheleth
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 08:24:21 -0500
Reply-To:     Kernon Gibes <gibes@SWIRL.MONSANTO.COM>
From:         Kernon Gibes <gibes@SWIRL.MONSANTO.COM>
Subject:      Re: CALIS TEST EXAMPLES
Comments: To: SAS-L@uga.cc.uga.edu@tin.monsanto.com
Comments: cc: GIBES@tin.monsanto.com

Regarding:

>These are *not* the examples referred to in the manual.

I don't know about that, but...

>The ones refferred to in the manual are now on ftp.sas.com where I got
>them a couple of weeks ago. Sorry I can't remember the directory, it
>was something like techsupport/samples...

-FYI-, it's:

  techsup/download/samples/calis

there is a CALIS.SAS and CALIS01.SAS through CALIS81.SAS and also the
file CALIS.TAR.Z which I presume is the compressed "tar" collection of
all these files.

Kernon Gibes
Internet: gibes@swirl.monsanto.com
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.2 PL16]
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Thu, 13 Aug 1992 09:12:12 CDT
Reply-To:     "R. Snyder" <rsnyder@LOBBY.TI.COM>
From:         "R. Snyder" <rsnyder@LOBBY.TI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Data type conversion
Comments: To: XIC%UTKVX.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu
Comments: cc: sas-l@uga.cc.uga.edu
              "XIC%UTKVX.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu" at Aug 13, 92 9:59 am

>
> I am trying to convert some character variables to numerical variables in a
> SAS program.  I know it is not hard, but I am lost in the SAS manual.  Can
> some one send me the name of the corresponding SAS function?  Thank you
> in advance, and sorry for this homework question.
>
Look at the INPUT and PUT functions.

Good luck,

Bob Snyder, Texas Instruments, Sherman, TX
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Thu, 13 Aug 1992 10:00:28 -0400
Reply-To:     "Paul A. Thompson" <pat@po.CWRU.Edu>
From:         "Paul A. Thompson" <pat@PO.CWRU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Macro variable naming conventions
Comments: To: richardh@EPISUN.EPIDEM.UWA.EDU.AU
Comments: cc: sas-l@vtvm2.cc.vt.edu

>
>Who cares?
>Besides typing underscores is a pain, just about as bad as file names
>with mixed case in UNIX.
>
>I think this list should concentrate on matters which have a direct
>influence on improving SAS and result in a wider understanding and
>use of SAS.
>
Of course you are wrong on three points.
1.  Variable naming is not trivial.  Much discussion in computer
    science involves proper names for things (i.e., Hungarian naming
    rules).  Do you name all your variables X1-X100?  Not if you are
    a sensible person.
2.  Correct rules, followed properly, result in improved code.  I contend
    that a good rule about a name results in better code.  Feel free to
    disagree, but it does belong on SAS-L.
3.  The use of correct names will help in the understanding of macros.
    This certainly again is a relevant topic.

This is a topic for which you may NOT RTFM.  Rather, the received wisdom
of us hoary sages is provided for the non-cognocenti.  It belongs on the
board.


--
Paul Thompson, Ph.D.  |  Department of Psychiatry  |  (216) 844-7463
Case Western Reserve University  | Cleveland, OH  44106
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If marriage is outlawed, only outlaws will have inlaws.