How do you test and validate the results of your SAS programs?

1 Use the log

The log is the first place to check for any syntax errors, warnings, or notes that may affect your SAS program. You can use the log to identify the source and location of the errors, and to troubleshoot them accordingly. You can also use the log to monitor the performance and efficiency of your SAS program, such as the memory usage, the CPU time, and the data set size. You can use options such as MPRINT, SYMBOLGEN, and MLOGIC to display more information about your macro variables, expressions, and statements in the log.

2 Use the output

The output is the second place to check for any logical errors, inconsistencies, or anomalies that may affect your SAS program. You can use the output to verify that your SAS program produces the expected results, such as the correct statistics, tables, graphs, or reports. You can also use the output to validate that your SAS program meets the specifications and requirements of your project, such as the format, the layout, and the content. You can use options such as ODS TRACE, ODS SELECT, and ODS EXCLUDE to control and customize the output generated by your SAS program.

3 Use the compare procedures

The compare procedures are the third place to check for any discrepancies or differences that may affect your SAS program. You can use the compare procedures to compare the results of your SAS program with a reference source, such as a previous version, a benchmark, or a standard. You can also use the compare procedures to compare the results of your SAS program with another SAS program, such as a different method, a different model, or a different approach. You can use procedures such as PROC COMPARE, PROC FREQ, and PROC MEANS to compare data sets, frequencies, and summary statistics respectively.

4 Use the debug tools

The debug tools are the fourth place to check for any problems or issues that may affect your SAS program. You can use the debug tools to examine and modify the values of your variables, expressions, and statements during the execution of your SAS program. You can also use the debug tools to control and manipulate the flow of your SAS program, such as pausing, resuming, stepping, or stopping. You can use tools such as the DATA step debugger, the macro debugger, and the interactive line mode to debug your SAS program interactively.

5 Use the test data sets

The test data sets are the fifth place to check for any errors or bugs that may affect your SAS program. You can use the test data sets to simulate and evaluate different scenarios and cases that may occur in your real data. You can also use the test data sets to check and validate the functionality and robustness of your SAS program, such as the handling of missing values, outliers, or invalid inputs. You can use tools such as the SAS sample library, the SASHELP library, or the RAND function to create and access test data sets.

6 Use the best practices

The best practices are the sixth place to check for any improvements or enhancements that may affect your SAS program. You can use the best practices to optimize and standardize your SAS program, such as using meaningful names, commenting your code, indenting your code, and documenting your code. You can also use the best practices to avoid and prevent common errors and pitfalls in your SAS program, such as using the appropriate data types, formats, and lengths, checking the assumptions and conditions, and verifying the logic and calculations. You can use tools such as the SAS code analyzer, the SAS quality analyzer, and the SAS code beautifier to apply and enforce best practices in your SAS program.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?