When I want to comment out code for testing and debugging, I just create a macro:

<stuff that runs> %macro outercomment; <stuff that doesn't run> %macro comment; <stuff that doesn't run> %mend comment; %mend outercomment; <stuff that runs>

-Sterling

On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 10:31 AM, Keintz, H. Mark <mkeintz@wharton.upenn.edu > wrote:

> Folks: > > This is an informal request to SAS-L for thoughts on a nested comment > mechanism. I.e. if the next sasware ballot included an item like "introduce > nested comments", how might the feature look in practice? > > > JUSTIFICATION: > > AFAIK, SAS does not support nested comments. In particular a single "*/" > cancels the effect of any number of preceding unpaired "/*" delimiters. > > I for one would appreciate the ability to nest comments. When developing, > say, a 7-step program I may have steps 3 and 5 already vetted and each > therefore commented out via "/* ... */". If, after further testing, I want > to comment out steps 2 through 6, I can't simply insert delimiters before > step 2 and after step 6. > > > PROPOSAL: > > Add //* and *// as nested comment delimiters, such that: > > //* Increases the comment level by 1 > *// Decreases the comment level by 1 > > > EXAMPLE: using the 7-step program mentioned above, I start out with steps 3 > and 5 commented with the proposed tokens. > > ... step 1 SAS code ... > ... step 2 SAS code ... > //* > ... step 3 SAS code ... treated as a comment (level 1) > *// > ... step 4 SAS code ... > //* > ... step 5 SAS code ... treated as a comment (level 1) > *// > ... step 6 SAS code ... > ... step 7 SAS code ... > > Subsequently I want to comment steps 2 through 6. I would add //* before > step 2 and *// after step 6: > > ... step 1 SAS code ... > //* > ... step 2 SAS code ... treated as a comment (level 1) > //* > ... step 3 SAS code ... treated as a comment (level 2) > *// > ... step 4 SAS code ... treated as a comment (level 1) > //* > ... step 5 SAS code ... treated as a comment (level 2) > *// > ... step 6 SAS code ... treated as a comment (level 1) > *// > ... step 7 SAS code ... > > CONSIDERATIONS: > 1. This feature should not be allowed to break the behavior of /* and */. > In particular all comment levels established by //* would be subordinate > to the effect of */, which would terminate all levels. > > 2. I know of no usage of the token "//*" in current SAS programs, and an > unpaired "*//" would be treated the same as an unpaired "*/". So IMO these > particular tokens are highly unlikely to be present in current programs. > I.e. they shouldn't break any current code. > > > > (Ahem) Comments? > > > regards, > Mark >