Changes and Enhancements for All Operating Environments

This chapter describes the features of the SAS Macro Language that have been implemented or enhanced since Release 6.12. If you use SAS software in an OS/390, CMS, or OpenVMS VAX environment, then also see Additional Version 7 Changes and Enhancements for OS/390, CMS, and OpenVMS VAX.

For detailed information about any of these new or enhanced features, see SAS Macro Language: Reference.

Automatic Macro Variables

The following automatic macro variables are available in all operating environments.

SYSCC: contains the current condition code that SAS returns to your operating environment (the operating environment condition code).
SYSCHARWIDTH: contains the character width value.
SYSDATE9: contains a SAS date value in DATE9. format, which displays a 2-digit date, the first three letters of the month name, and a 4-digit year.
SYSDMG: contains a return code that reflects an action taken on a damaged data set.
SYSPROCESSID: contains the process ID of the current SAS process.
SYSPROCESSNAME: contains the process name of the current SAS process.
SYSSTARTID: contains the identification number that was generated by the last STARTSAS statement.
SYSSTARTNAME: contains the process name that was generated by the last STARTSAS statement.
SYSUSERID: contains the user ID or login of the current SAS process.

For more information, see SAS Macro Language: Reference.

Macro Statements

%PUT: In Version 8, the %PUT statement has been enhanced. It displays text in different colors to generate messages that look like SAS-generated ERROR, NOTE, and WARNING messages.
%SYSLPUT: In Version 8, this new macro statement creates a new macro variable or modifies the value of an existing macro variable on a remote host or server.