R function cat outputs to clipbaord - r

Question

I have written an R function to write some SAS code (yes, I know, I am lazy), and it prints text as follows:
proc_sql_missing <- function(cols, data){
cat("\nproc sql;")
cat(paste0("\n\tselect\tPat_TNO,\n\t\t\t", paste(names(data)[cols], collapse = ",\n\t\t\t")))
cat("\n\tfrom", substitute(data))
cat(paste0("\n\twhere\t", paste(names(data)[cols], collapse = "= . OR\n\t\t\t"), "= .;"))
cat("\nquit;")
}
Which when called prints something similar to the following to the R output:
proc sql;
select Pat_TNO,
fuq_pa_enjoy_hate,
fuq_pa_bored_interest,
fuq_pa_like_dislike,
fuq_pa_pleasble_unpleasble,
fuq_pa_absorb_notabsorb,
fuq_pa_fun_notfun,
fuq_pa_energizing_tiring,
fuq_pa_depress_happy,
fuq_pa_pleasant_unpleast,
fuq_pa_good_bad,
fuq_pa_invigor_notinvigor,
fuq_pa_frustrate_notfrust,
fuq_pa_gratifying_notgrat,
fuq_pa_exhilarate_notexhil,
fuq_pa_stimulate_notstim,
fuq_pa_accom_notaccom,
fuq_pa_refresh_notrefresh,
fuq_pa_doing_notdoing
from followup
where fuq_pa_enjoy_hate= . OR
fuq_pa_bored_interest= . OR
fuq_pa_like_dislike= . OR
fuq_pa_pleasble_unpleasble= . OR
fuq_pa_absorb_notabsorb= . OR
fuq_pa_fun_notfun= . OR
fuq_pa_energizing_tiring= . OR
fuq_pa_depress_happy= . OR
fuq_pa_pleasant_unpleast= . OR
fuq_pa_good_bad= . OR
fuq_pa_invigor_notinvigor= . OR
fuq_pa_frustrate_notfrust= . OR
fuq_pa_gratifying_notgrat= . OR
fuq_pa_exhilarate_notexhil= . OR
fuq_pa_stimulate_notstim= . OR
fuq_pa_accom_notaccom= . OR
fuq_pa_refresh_notrefresh= . OR
fuq_pa_doing_notdoing= .;
quit;
Is there any way I can automatically copy this text to the clipboard so I can paste straight into SAS?

Answer 1

capture.output to capture the output:
output <- capture.output(proc_sql_missing(cols, data))
Then you can use clipr::write_clip(output), or writeClipboard(output) on Windows.

Answer 2

You can specify file = "clipboard" as an argument to cat, so if you change your function to
proc_sql_missing <- function(cols, data) {
cat(
paste(
"\nproc sql;",
paste0("\n\tselect\tPat_TNO,\n\t\t\t",
paste(names(data)[cols], collapse = ",\n\t\t\t")),
paste("\n\tfrom", substitute(data)),
paste0("\n\twhere\t",
paste(names(data)[cols], collapse = "= . OR\n\t\t\t"),
"= .;"),
"\nquit;",
sep = "\n"),
file = "clipboard"
)
}
Then when you run, say,
proc_sql_missing(1:3, mtcars)
Then your clipboard will now contain
proc sql;
select Pat_TNO,
mpg,
cyl,
disp
from mtcars
where mpg= . OR
cyl= . OR
disp= .;
quit;