CC05
Don’t copy this program: use SYSPARM instead
Steve Wong, Wyeth-Ayerst/Genetics Institute

Often when a production program needs to be slightly modified to run in an optional way, that program is copied and the copy is modified per the new specifications. Now both programs reside in production and one or the other is run depending on which opti on the user needs. One obvious drawback to this approach is when a common portion of the programs needs to be fixed or modified, both files require the same modifications. However there is a technique to run the one program with the modifications/options as an input parameter. SYSPARM is a base SAS(r) system option, which allows the user to pass information to the program from the operating system. SYSPARM is available for all operating systems, the syntax is slightly different for each operating sys tem. For this paper I will be using the UNIX syntax. This paper will be directed to the beginner/moderate skill level, basic knowledge of the macro language will be required.