SAS Functions and CALL Routines under Windows |
Category: | External Routines |
Windows specifics: | all |
Syntax | |
Details | |
See Also |
Syntax |
CALL MODULE(<cntl>,module,arg-1,arg-2. . . ,arg-n); |
num=MODULEN(<cntl>,module,arg-1,arg-2...,arg-n); |
char=MODULEC(<cntl>,module,arg-1...,arg-2,arg-n); |
Note:
The following functions permit vector and matrix arguments; you can use them within the IML procedure.
CALL MODULEI <cntl>,modulearg-1,arg-2. . . ,arg-n); |
num=MODULEIN(<cntl>,module,arg-1,arg-2. . .,arg-n) |
char=MODULEIC(<cntl>,module,arg-1,arg-2. . .,arg-n); |
is an optional control string whose first character must be an asterisk (*), followed by any combination of the following characters:
For example, the control string '*IS/' specifies that parameter lists be printed and that the string '/' is to be treated as a separator character in the argument list.
is the name of the external module to use, specified as a DLL name and the routine name or ordinal value, separated by a comma. The module must reside in a dynamic link library (DLL) and it must be externally callable. For example, the value 'KERNEL32,GetProfileString' specifies to load KERNEL32.DLL and to invoke the GetProfileString routine. Note that while the DLL name is not case sensitive, the routine name is based on the restraints of the routine's implementation language, so the routine name is case sensitive.
If the DLL supports ordinal-value naming, you can provide the DLL name followed by a decimal number, such as 'XYZ,30' .
You do not need to specify the DLL name if you specified the MODULE attribute for the routine in the SASCBTBL attribute table, as long as the routine name is unique (that is, no other routines have the same name in the attribute file).
You can specify module as a SAS character expression instead of as a constant; most often, though, you will pass it as a constant.
are the arguments to pass to the requested routine. Use the proper attributes for the arguments (numeric arguments for numeric attributes and character arguments for character attributes).
Details |
The MODULE functions execute a routine module that resides in an external (outside SAS) dynamic link library with the specified arguments arg-1 through arg-n.
The MODULE call routine does not return a value, while the MODULEN and MODULEC functions return a number num or a character char, respectively. Which routine you use depends on the expected return value of the DLL function that you want to execute.
MODULEI, MODULEIC, and MODULEIN are special versions of the MODULE functions that permit vector and matrix arguments. Their return values are still scalar. You can invoke these functions only from PROC IML.
Other than this name difference, the syntax for all six routines is the same.
The MODULE function builds a parameter list by using the information in arg-1 to arg-n and by using a routine description and argument attribute table that you define in a separate file. Before you invoke the MODULE routine, you must define the fileref of SASCBTBL to point to this external file. You can name the file whatever you want when you create it.
This way, you can use SAS variables and formats as arguments to the MODULE function and ensure that these arguments are properly converted before being passed to the DLL routine.
See Also |
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