Process Metadata (from Fraktal SAS Programming)

If in doubt, read this: What is Metadata?

Although the following examples hold for every static METABASE design we will start over with consideration of dynamic metadata arrays that are read from database tables or datasets. Using dynamic metadata arrays is commonly referred to as DATA DRIVEN APPROACH because processing depends on content of data tables.

Examples are based on the sample CLASS dataset and presentation will have three logical steps:

1. generate the list itself
2. obtain the number of elements
3. utilize list elements

To accomplish this task we will use Data Steps along with PROCs SQL and PRINT in order to sketch three approaches:

• a list with selected delimiters ("List")
• a set of numbered parameters ("Numbered")
• a single parameter that is used repeatedly ("Direct")