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SAS Packages Framework Steps

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SAS Packages Framework Steps

Description​

The SAS Packages Framework, created by Bart Jablonski, allows users to develop and use SAS packages:

A SAS package is an automatically generated, single, stand alone zip file containing organised and ordered code structures, created by the developer and extended with additional automatically generated "driving" files (i.e. description, metadata, load, unload, and help files).

The purpose of a package is to be a simple, and easy to access, code sharing medium, which will allow: on the one hand, to separate the code complex dependencies created by the developer from the user experience with the final product and, on the other hand, reduce developer's and user's unnecessary frustration related to a remote deployment process.

These custom steps add an interface around the SAS Packages Framework, enabling SAS Packages to be easily embedded into a SAS Studio flow.

Features​

  • Initialize, install, load, and update SAS packages in one step using the latest version from GitHub (default), your own URL, or a local SPFInit.sas file
  • Choose from the rich ecosystem of SAS packages: SASPAC, PharmaForest, GitHub, or your own custom repository
  • Install, load, and unload SAS packages as individual steps for granular flow control
  • Choose advanced options to load individual packages
  • Get HTML results for package help, package previews, or a list of packages
  • Get an inventory of packages on your system
  • Viya File Service support*
  • Comprehensive documentation within each step
  • Connect together multiple steps within a single flow
  • Specify packages as a list or from a file in one of five intuitive formats:
packages.txt​
package
package(version)
package[version]
package{version}
package==version
warning

Not all SPF features used by these steps are supported with the Viya File Service.

A physical disk or mounted network drive is highly recommended for package storage to ensure optimal performance and compatibility.

Quick Start Guide​

  1. Upload Initialize SAS Packages Framework to SAS Viya
  2. Add Initialize SAS Packages Framework to a flow
  3. Select a folder to store SAS Packages (a physical disk or mounted network drive is highly recommended)
  4. In the Install / Load tab, check the Install packages and Load packages options
  5. Add a list of packages you wish to install and load from a repository; for example, sqlInDs from the SAS Packages repository
  6. Run the step
  7. Create a new SAS program and test your package code:
data hello_cars;
    set %sql(select * from sashelp.cars);
run;

Example workflows​

Initialize, install, and load packages, run code, then unload packages​

Initialize and install packages from two different sources, run code, then unload packages​

Initialize and load packages, run code, then unload packages​

Initialize using SAS code, load packages, run code, then unload packages​

Get help or other information about packages​

User Interface​

Initialize:​

Install:​

Load:​

Unload:​

Get Package Info:​

SAS Viya Version Support​

Tested on Viya 4, Stable 2025.12

Requirements​

Documentation:​

All documentation is provided within the About section of each step. A general description of all available steps is provided below.

Initialize SAS Packages Framework​

Initializes the SAS Packages Framework, and optionally installs and loads packages in a single step.

Install SAS Package​

An independent step to install SAS packages.

Load SAS Package​

An independent step to load SAS packages.

Unload SAS Package​

Unload SAS packages from the current session.

Get SAS Package Info​

  • Prints developer-provided package help and optionally generates a dataset of package content
  • Prints a package preview
  • Prints all SAS packages in the PACKAGES fileref and optionally generates a dataset with all packages to create an inventory

Results are printed to either HTML or the log.

Created / Contact:​

Change Log​

  • Version 1.0.0 (17FEB2026)
    • Initial version