The previous sections of this chapter show how to install and use a package that was written by someone else. This section shows how you can author a new SAS/IML package. A package can contain source files that define modules, data sets, documentation, and programs that demonstrate how to use the package.
Suppose you have written some SAS/IML functions that compute certain facts about right triangles in the Euclidean plane. You decide to create a package called RightTriangle to share these functions with others.
This section guides you through the creation of the RightTriangle package. The steps are summarized as follows and described in more detail in subsequent sections:
Create a package directory structure.
Create a file named info.txt, which provides SAS/IML software with information about the package. The file name must contain only lowercase letters.
Create one or more source files that define the SAS/IML modules in the package.
Create a program file that demonstrates how to call the modules.
Create a help file that documents the purpose of the package and shows the syntax of the modules.
Create a ZIP file that preserves the directory structure and contains all the package files.
Note: This procedure is experimental .