Abstract: A system and method for reading and writing datasets (SAS datasets) written in a proprietary runtime macro language (SAS, owned by the SAS Institute, Inc.) directly, without going through a system that uses the SAS proprietary runtime macro language. The system employs a JAVA Database Connectivity (JDBC) application program interface (API) driver usable by JDBC enabled JAVA applications. The driver extracts from the SAS dataset information from a header page that enables identification of information on metadata pages which in turn are used by the driver to present to the JAVA application a view of the data as a database table, from which the JAVA application can request reading and writing of the SAS dataset.

Abstract: A system and method for automated conversion of a SAS runtime macro language (RML) program to a target language program such as JAVA. RML macros are identified and converted for inclusion in the RML program. A lexer is applied to generate a stream of tokens, including a token type for ambiguous tokens. A context dependent parsing module, including a token filter to resolve ambiguous tokens, assists the parser in generating an abstract syntax tree (AST), which is modified to express RML specific control flow constructs with target language program elements. The elements of the modified AST are replaced with target language templates from a library, with template parameters filled from the corresponding AST element. A run time library is provided for execution of the target language program.