Syntax

Syntax of Functions

The syntax of a function is

function- name ( argument-1 <, ... argument-n >)

function-name (OF variable-list )

function-name (OF array-name {*})

where

function-name

• names the function.

argument

• can be a variable name, constant, or any SAS expression, including another function. The number and kind of arguments that SAS allows are described with individual functions. Multiple arguments are separated by a comma.

• Tip: If the value of an argument is invalid (for example, missing or outside the prescribed range), SAS writes a note to the log indicating that the argument is invalid, sets _ERROR_ to 1, and sets the result to a missing value.

• Examples:

  • x=max(cash,credit);

  • x=sqrt(1500);

  • NewCity=left( upcase (City));

  • x=min(YearTemperature-July,YearTemperature-Dec);

  • s=repeat('----+',16);

  • x=min((enroll-drop),(enroll-fail));

  • dollars=int(cash);

  • if sum(cash,credit) > 1000 then

    put 'Goal reached';

variable-list

• can be any form of a SAS variable list, including individual variable names. If more than one variable list appears, separate them with a space or with a comma and another OF.

• Examples:

  • a=sum(of x y z);

  • The following two examples are equivalent.

    • a=sum(of x1-x10 y1-y10 z1-z10);

      a=sum(of x1-x10, of y1-y10, of z1-z10);

  • z=sum(of y1-y10);

array-name {*}

• names a currently defined array. Specifying an array in this way causes SAS to treat the array as a list of the variables instead of processing only one element of the array at a time.

• Examples:

  • array y{10} y1-y10;

    x=sum(of y{*});

Syntax of CALL Routines

The syntax of a CALL routine is

CALL routine-name ( argument-1 <, ... argument-n >);

CALL routine-name (OF variable-list );

CALL routine-name ( argument-1 OF variable-list-1 <, ... argument-n OF variable-list-n >);

where

routine-name

• names a SAS CALL routine.

argument

• can be a variable name, a constant, any SAS expression, an external module name, an array reference, or a function. Multiple arguments are separated by a comma. The number and kind of arguments that are allowed are described with individual CALL routines in the dictionary section.

• Examples:

  • call rxsubstr (rx,string,position);

  • call set(dsid);

  • call ranbin(Seed_1,n,p,X1);

  • call label(abc{j},lab);

variable-list

• can be any form of a SAS variable list, including variable names. If more than one variable list appears, separate them with a space or with a comma and another OF.

• Examples:

  • call cats(inventory, of y1-y15, of z1-z15);

    call catt(of item17-item23 pack17-pack23);