Windows In The SAS Windowing Environment Software

What is SAS?

SAS is a statistical software package that allows the user to manipulate and analyze data in many different ways. Because of its capabilities, this software package is used in many disciplines (not just statistics!), including medical sciences,biological sciences, and social sciences.

The SAS Windows:

After you open SAS,There are Five basic SAS windows: the Results and Explorer windows, and three programming windows: Editor, Log, and Output.

Sometimes the windows are not immediately visible (for example, in the Windows operating environment, the Output window comes up behind the Editor and Log windows), but all these windows do exist in your SAS session.


The following figure shows the default view for a Microsoft Windows SAS session, with

pointers to the five main SAS windows

Windows In The SAS Windowing Environment

What is the priority order of SAS windows?

This is one of the frequently asking questions in the Interviews and SAS ,certification, exam.Now we can know what is the priority of SAS windows and Why they have such priority order.

1.The Explorer Window : 

The Explorer window has the first priority in SAS windows ,why because in the Explorer window only store all our data and  gives you easy access to your SAS files and libraries.


2. The Editor Window:

The Editor window has the second  priority in SAS windows ,This window is a text editor. You can use it to type in, edit, and submit SAS programs as well as edit other text files such as raw data files. In Windows operating environments, the default editor is the Enhanced Editor. The Enhanced Editor is syntax sensitive and color codes your programs making it easier to read them and find mistakes.For other operating environments, the default editor is the Program Editor whose features vary with the version of SAS and operating environment.

3. The Log Window:

The Log  window has the Third  priority in SAS windows,in the Log window Every time you run a SAS job, SAS writes messages in your log. Many SAS programmers ignore the SAS log and go straight to the output. That’s understandable, but dangerous contains notes about your SAS session, and after you submit a SAS program, any notes, errors, or warnings associated with your program as well as the program statements themselves will appear in the Log window. 
For good programing each and every time  must check Log window after submits the SAS program.

4.The Output Window:

The Output window has the Fourth  priority in SAS windows,After submitting your program in the SAS windowing environment, your results will go to the Output window If your program generates any printable results, then they will appear in the Output window.

5.The Results window:


The Result window has the Fifth priority in SAS windows,When you have a lot of output, the Results window can be very helpful. The Results window is like a table of contents of your output. It lists each procedure that produces output, and if you open, or expand, the procedure in the Results tree, you can see each part of the procedure output.

Quiz

1. Which of the following lists the steps in the programming process correctly?
a.
1. Write a SAS program.
2. Debug or modify.
3. Run the program.
4. Review the results.
5. Define the business need.
b.
1. Define the business need.
2. Write a SAS program.
3. Run the program.
4. Review the results.
5. Debug or modify.

Correct answer: b

First, you establish the business need for your program. Then you go through the process
of writing and submitting the program, checking your results, and making any necessary
changes. You might have to perform this iterative process more than once.



2. Are raw data files created only by SAS?
a. Yes
b. No

Correct answer: b

Raw data files are files that contain nonsoftwarespecific
data.

3. .Using SAS, you can read any kind of data
a. True
b. False

Correct answer: a

Using SAS, you can read any kind of data. You might have data stored in SAS, in a raw
data file, in Oracle, in Excel, or in other types of files.


4. What does a SAS program file contain?
a. SAS programming code
b. data specific to SAS
c. an embedded Excel worksheet

Correct answer: a

SAS program files contain SAS programming code. These instructions tell SAS how to
process your data and what output to create.

5. Are SAS data sets created only by SAS?
a. Yes
b. No

Correct answer: a
SAS data sets contain data that is created only by SAS and can be read only by SAS.

6. Can a SAS program be saved and reused?
a. Yes
b. No

Correct answer: a
You can save and reuse SAS program files.

7.Which SAS is the centerpiece of all SAS Software?

a.advance SAS
b.Base SAS
c.clinical 
d.financial

correct answer:b
Base SAS is the centerpiece of all SAS software.

8. What is the work flow of  SAS ?
a.
1.manage data
2.analyze data
3.access data
4.present data
b.
1.access data
2.manage data
3.analyze data
4.present data

correct answer:b

1.Access data: Using SAS, you can read any kind of data.

2.Manage data: SAS gives you excellent data management capabilities

.3Analyze data: For statistical analysis. SAS is the gold standard.

4.Present data: You can use SAS to present your data meaningfully.


Review: Exploring the SAS Programming 

Getting Started with SAS Programming

Exploring SAS:
SAS  (Statistical Analysis System/Software)is a suite of business solutions and technologies to help organizations solve business problems. Base SAS is the centerpiece of all SAS software.

SAS capabilities:

1.Access data: Using SAS, you can read any kind of data.

2.Manage data: SAS gives you excellent data management capabilities

3.Analyze data: For statistical analysis. SAS is the gold standard.

4.Present data: You can use SAS to present your data meaningfully.

The SAS Programming Process:

1. Define the business need.

2. Write a SAS program based on the desired output. the necessary input. and the required           processing.

3. Run the program.

4. Review your results.

5. If you find inaccuracies or errors. you debug or modify the program.

Depending on your results. you might need to repeat some of the steps.

The power of SAS is that you can use it to read any type of data, including the following three major file Types.
Types Of Files Used in SAS:

1.Raw data files: contain data that has not been processed by any other computer program. They are text files that contain one record per line. and the record typically contains multiple fields. Raw data files aren't reports: they are unfonnatted text.

2.SAS data sets : are specific to SAS. A SAS data set is data in a form that SAS can understand. Like raw data files. SAS data sets contain data. But in SAS data sets. the data is created only by SAS and can be read only by SAS.

3.SAS program files :contains SAS programming code. These instructions tell SAS how to process your data and what output to create. You can save and reuse SAS program files.