What's New in the SAS 9.2 Macro Language Facility

The Macro Language Facility has the following enhancements:

• new automatic macro variables that enable you to reduce the amount of text that is needed to perform common tasks

• new macro system options that enable you to define and redefine macros and to better control their execution

• new %MACRO statement options that enable you to create secure macros and to integrate macros with other parts of your SAS programs

• The &SYSENCODING automatic macro variable contains the name of the current session encoding.

• The &SYSERRORTEXT automatic macro variable contains the text of the last error message formatted for display on the SAS log.

• The &SYSHOSTNAME automatic macro variable contains the host name of a computer.

• The &SYSLOGAPPLNAME automatic macro variable contains the value of the LOGAPPLNAME system option. This automatic macro variable is for SAS 9.2 Phase 2 and later.

• The &SYSTCPIPHOSTNAME automatic macro variable contains the host names of the local and remote computers when multiple TCP/IP stacks are supported.

• The &SYSWARNINGTEXT automatic macro variable contains the text of the last warning message formatted for display on the SAS log.

• The MCOMPILE system option allows new definitions of macros.

• The MEXECNOTE system option displays the macro execution information in the SAS log at macro invocation.

• The MEXECSIZE system option specifies the maximum macro size that can be executed in memory.

• The MINOPERATOR system option specifies that the macro processor recognizes and evaluates the mnemonic IN and the special character # as logical operators when evaluating arithmetic or logical expressions during the execution of the macro.

• The MREPLACE system option enables existing macros to be redefined.

• The MINDELIMITER= option specifies a value that overrides the MINDELIMITER= global option during a macro session.

• The SECURE option enables you to write secure macros that protect intellectual property contained in stored compiled macros.

• The MINOPERATOR option specifies that the macro processor recognizes and evaluates the mnemonic IN and the special character # as logical operators when evaluating arithmetic or logical expressions during the execution of the macro.

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