Date:         Thu, 12 May 2005 16:04:06 -0400
Reply-To:     "Fehd, Ronald J" <rjf2@CDC.GOV>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Fehd, Ronald J" <rjf2@CDC.GOV>
Subject:      Re: Do you recommed this source ..
Comments: To: Robbins <robbins@O2.PL>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> From: Robbins

> Dear SAS Users,
> I'm a novice but I wonder whether it's worth buying a book
> listed below about macro:
> Art Carpenter, Carpenter's Complete Guide to the SAS Macro
> Language, 2nd
> Edition (2004). If  I haven't the slightest idea about macro
> in SAS am I capable of learning form this book?

So you're an apprentice
and you might consider spending enough time learning SAS
to consider becoming a Journeyman, eh?

learning macro means you are making a commitment
to serious reuse of code
this involves some forethought
as well as some reasonably serious testing
of your macro code.

The key, in my not so humble opinion,
to reuse
is whether you think time with your family
is more important than spending time at work
staring at the screen.

More Reuse means Less Rework.
Less Rework means you go home, at least on time,
if not early,
with a smile on your face at a job well done.

Quality means:
    Zero Defects,
and No Hassle.

for my book reviews on Carpenter's book

check our most excellent archives:
http://www.listserv.uga.edu/archives/sas-l.html
      search for:
subject contains: review
author's address: RJF2
           since: Jan 2004
           until:

Ron Fehd  the macro maven  CDC Atlanta GA USA RJF2 at cdc dot gov

FAQ: How to use SAS-L
http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/sugi29/247-29.pdf


more reading on Philip Crosby and Quality
as well as material on the Mythical Man-Month
and time spent testing is available in my paper:

Coder's Corner
Journeyman's Tools:
The Writing for Reading and Reuse Program Header
http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/sugi30/067-30.pdf

for a discussion of Serious Reuse issues
consider compiling and storing macros in catalogs

Tutorials
A SASautos Companion: Reusing Macros
http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/sugi30/267-30.pdf

Ron Fehd  the macro maven  CDC Atlanta GA USA RJF2 at cdc dot gov