SCL for Base SAS Programmers

Why and How

Jerry Le Breton

Agenda
This is NOT a tutorial on SCL What is SCL? Why you ought to know How to mix Base SAS and SCL

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SCL for Base SAS Programmers

What is SCL?
SCL (pre-V7) Screen Control Language SCL (V7+) SAS Component Language For on-line applications (with SAS/AF) Much wider usage for SCL SCL as another facility for the Base SAS programmer

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SCL for Base SAS Programmers

SCL Features
Supports on-line applications Object oriented language - for code re-use in class libraries Extra coding features and functions
Dynamic arrays SCL Lists Other extra functionality
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SCL Invades the Data Step

In 6.12 the SCL I/O functions were included in Base SAS Data Step: data _null_; set logs end=theend; if fileextn='txt' then txt + 1; if theend then put txt=; But
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SCL Invades the Data Step

Equivalent SCL code:
dsid=open(logs'); call set(dsid); do while (fetch(dsid)=0); if fileextn='txt' then txt + 1; end; rc = close(dsid);
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(2)

SCL Invades the Data Step

(3)

The previous SCL will run in an SCL program or a Data Step Faster as real SCL because compiled before execution

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SCL for Base SAS Programmers

SCL Arrays
SCL supports, standard, static arrays
Fixed size array a(10) $20; Fixed type character or numeric

Imagine: hiearchical data on a tape

Rec. type 1: Person details Rec. type 2: Allowance details (0 to many) Need to perform array processing on allowances
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SCL Arrays (2)

Data allow1; Infile ... Input ... Allw_type $4. Allw_start ddmmyy8. Allw_end ddmmyy8. ; array types(10) _temporary_ $4; array starts(10) _temporary_ ; array ends(10) _temporary_ ; if <this record for same person> then do; allw_no + 1; types{allw_no} = allw_type; starts{allw_no} = allw_start; ends{allw_no} = allw_end; end; else do; ... extra array processing ... end; 16 August 2001 SCL for Base SAS Programmers

SAUSAG

SCL Arrays

(3)

Static arrays are fixed SCL supports dynamic arrays Special functions define dynamic arrays:
Declare char arrayname(*); Arrayname = makearray(10); rc = redim(arrayname, 20);

Extra array functions that only exist in SCL, e.g: asort - for array sorting copyarray comparearray
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SCL Arrays
Equivalent SCL:

(4)

declare char types(*); declare num starts(*); declare num ends(*); ... types = makearray(1); starts = makearray(1); ends = makearray(1); ... fid = fopen(...); do while (fread(fid) = 0); ... if <this record for same person> then do; rc = redim(types, dim(types) + 1); types{dim(types} = allw_type; ... end;
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SCL Lists
SCL Lists are really dynamic
elements added (& deleted) without redim elements can be different types elements can be sub-lists elements can have names

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SCL Lists (2)

List
N am e
(C )

DOB
2098

(N )

A llo w an c e (L)
123

A llo w an c e
125

(L)

F red S m ith

Type (C) NS Start (C) 14566 End (C) 14602

Type (C) D Start (C) 14710 End (C) 14790

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SCL Lists (3)

SCL using lists:
fid = fopen(...); do while (fread(fid) = 0); ... if <new person > then personList = makelist(); ... if <this record for same person> then do; allwDetail = makelist(); rc = insertc(allwDetail, allw_type, -1, 'TYPE'); rc = insertn(allwDetail, allw_start, -1, 'START'); rc = insertn(allwDetail, allw_end, -1, 'END'); rc = insertl(personList, allwDetail,-1,"Allowance"); ... end;
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SCL Lists (4)

SCL Lists have special functions
Search, reverse, rotate elements

Lists can be saved as SLIST catalog entries Alternative data structure to SAS data sets - for the right shaped data. Not suitable for large amounts of data - SCL lists are held in memory.
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Base SAS & SCL Differences

SCL LENGTH function returns 0 for a null string (instead of 1) SCL SELECT can't cope with multiple values e.g.
SELECT (ITEM); WHEN ('A', 'B') ... /* Not allowed */

IN operator
array list{3} $10 ('cat','bird','dog'); i='dog' in ('cat','bird','dog'); /* i=3 in SCL i=1 in Data Step */ j='dog' in list; /* Only in SCL */
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Using SCL with Base SAS

PROC DISPLAY to run an SCL program e.g. proc display c=sasuser.profile.test.scl

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Using Base SAS with SCL

Within SCL code, Base SAS is executed in a SUBMIT block E.G.
init: dataset = sashelp.prdsales; SUBMIT continue; proc print data=&dataset; run; ENDSUBMIT; return;
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Summary
So why bother with SCL? Extra features: Dynamic arrays SCL Lists Other functions Greater flexibility Can be faster because already compiled ( Job Security?! )

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