The DS2 Procedure: SAS Programming Methods at Work

Chapter 4: Scope

Scope

The Program Data Vector (PDV)

KEEP and DROP

Scope in Other Programming Blocks

Scope

In programming, scope is the area in which a variable is visible. In other words, scope lets you know where a variable can be accessed. If you write SAS macro functions, you are familiar with local (%local) and global (%global) macro variables. Suppose you have the following code:

%local macVar

The variable is available only in the macro. When the macro completes, the variable is no longer available. Suppose you have the following code:

%global macVar;

This variable is available to all procedures, macros (including macro variables or functions), and DATA steps during the entire SAS session. What sometimes confuses a SAS programmer learning ...