In order to integrate
a node into a process flow, the SAS Enterprise Miner environment generates
and initializes a variety of macro variables and variables macros
at run time. As a developer, you can take advantage of these macro
variables and variables macros to enable your extension node to function
effectively and efficiently within an Enterprise Miner process flow.
These are documented
in the
Utility Macros section of the SAS Code node help file. In
the discussion that follows, each time a macro is referenced initially,
a hyperlink to its documentation is provided rather than providing
syntax diagrams within the text. Even so, it is recommended that you
read both appendixes before proceeding with this chapter in order
to gain an appreciation of the scope of the tools available to you.
There is also another
reason why you should read
Appendix 1: SAS Code Node
Documentation in its entirety. The SAS Code node can be used to develop, test,
and modify an extension node's code in the context of a process flow
diagram without being encumbered by deployment issues. There are also
a number of useful examples in the SAS Code node's documentation that
can guide you when writing your own code. However, you should be aware
that the Score Code pane of the SAS Code node's Code Editor is reserved
for what is known as static scoring code. Dynamic scoring code must
be included in the Train code pane of the Code Editor (this is discussed
in greater detail in the SAS Code node documentation). Therefore,
the way you separate your code into Train, Score, and Report actions
in an extension node might not directly correspond to the way you
separate your code in the Train, Score, and Report code panes of the
SAS Code node Code Editor. Also, you cannot develop and test the node's
properties file or the node's Create action using the SAS Code node;
you must deploy your extension node to perform these tasks.