© ocs consulting 1 sas macro version control jim groeneveld, ocs consulting, rosmalen, the...
TRANSCRIPT
© OCS Consulting1
SAS Macro Version Control
Jim Groeneveld, OCS Consulting,
Rosmalen, the Netherlands.
066-2007 – SGF 2007
© OCS Consulting2
SAS Macro Version Control
CONTENTS
• Numbering, fixes, adds, new bugs• Backwards (in)compatibility• Version control: stopping version• Running version: backward supp.• Backward call, version distribution• Main version distribution macro• Distributing macro advantages
© OCS Consulting3
SAS Macro Version Control
Numbering, fixes, adds, new bugs
• Major.Minor.Patch[.Build] number;
• develop from 0.0.0; 1st release 1.0.0;
• newer versions may fix bugs and add features, are backwards compatible;
• newer versions may have new bugs or may not be backwards compatible;
• archive programs with versions used, prevent running them with newer vs..
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SAS Macro Version Control
Backwards (in)compatibility
Backwards incompatibility:
• changed or removed arguments;
• changed parameter defaults;
• changed or removed parameter values with specific meanings;
• changed parameter functionality.
Best to avoid backwards incompatibility.
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SAS Macro Version Control
Version control: stopping version
Version argument with vs number:, Version = 2.7.3k /* current vs */
Process user specified version value:
%IF (&Version NE &CurVs) %THEN %DO; %PUT *** &MacName *** &ERR: Specified vs. &Version does not match &CurVs;%GOTO Finish; %* Do not run this vs.;
%END; %* User fetches older macro;
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SAS Macro Version Control
Running version: backward support
Alternative actions with backward incompatibilities:
• reproduce behaviour of older macro;
• support outdated argument names;
• control system that automatically fetches and uses older/any version: backward call, version distribution!!!
Programs validated with older versions.
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SAS Macro Version Control
Backward call, version distribution
Based on other version control system:• unique, numbered file and macro name
for each version, e.g. ‘macro201’;• directly called by numbered name.
Backward call, version distribution:• last version also has numbered name;• distributing macro has main name;• numbered versions support stopping.
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SAS Macro Version Control
Main version distribution macro
• version argument (all versions);• main supports _all_ arguments of older
versions by way of PARMBUFF option;• version parameter value is determined• dependent on user specified version
the right macro version is called with user specified &SYSPBUFF parameters;
• no version specification: last version.%AnyMacro(Data=_LAST_, Version=1.0.1a);
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SAS Macro Version Control
Distributing macro advantages
• no need for explicit support of arglist;• only user specified parameters passed;• main has knowledge about versions;• slight adaptation if new macro version;• a version nr may represent compatible
ones of which the newest is chosen;• default (no vs spec) always newest vs;• any version callable at any time.
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Q&A : origin
Origin of presentation
• experience with writing and validating standard SAS macros;
• collection of encountered and invented ideas on recommendations;
• observed weaknesses in (macro) program code in practice;
• felt need to improve quality of code;• the need to keep older (validated)
macro versions available.