Creating a Local Library

SAS ® provides us with the %local statement to insure that macro variables that are created in our macros do not collide with macro variables that might exist outside the macro. However, SAS provides no such utility for SAS datasets. This paper presents a macro that will create a SAS library that is local to the macro that creates it. With this utility, the users of the macro do not have to be concerned about whether they have a SAS dataset or catalog with the same name as one created by the macro. This paper shows the use of the macro and discusses elements of sound macro design.