Table of Contents

I.  About SAS (Statistical Analysis System) (GoBack)

SAS started as a system for statistical analysis   and continued heavily in that direction, while rapidly expanding to other applications :   data base management, file handling, report writing, as well as a language for pure programming; recently it has ‘plugged-in’ into the internet. While not  as user friendly as SPSS,  SAS's enormous power and range of applications  make  it used world wide by numerous institutions (education, government, finance, corporate,  etc.)

II.  SAS/Windows (GoBack)

SAS/Windows  in the W & M labs runs only in the SAS DMS (Display Manger System); it can not be run at the DOS command line as on a main frame such as the UNIX Stats at W & M.(where it can also be run in the SAS DMS when Stats is in the X-Windows mode). Although the DMS provides the menu system  SAS/Assist (similar to  SPSS/Windows), the emphasis is SAS  programming/execution to get results. (See  Appendix A.III  for more about SAS/Assist.)

III.  Starting SAS/Windows in the William and Mary Labs (GoBack)

To start SAS on a PC in the labs at  W&M,  click Start, then Programs then Statistics, then SAS 9,  and finally The SAS System for  Windows V.9..

IV.  Basic Structure of the SAS DMS (GoBack)

After you do the above, the SAS DMS opens with three windows: the LOG at the top, the EDITOR at the bottom, and the EXPLORER on the left, all three shown in Fig 1. (Note:  The EXPLORER here will  is not discussed;  instead EXPLORER(2) another window with similar functions and  more powerful, will be covered).

In the SAS DMS you enter and execute a SAS program in the EDITOR;  at the top, you view the log of the run  (again see Fig 1 );  any output  appears in the OUTPUT window  which displays medium size and  covers the  LOG and  EDITOR;   the left  then  becomes the RESULTS window; listing output items for navigating the output and selecting parts for printing/saving/deleting. Below the EDITOR are icons for  displaying the  LOG  EDITOR, and OUTPUT windows;  below on the left are the  RESULTS and EXPLORER icons for shifting between these two displays (yet again see Fig 1)

To the left of the toolbar at the top of the SAS DMS, is a small command window  for executing DMS commands; here if you execute ‘keys’, for example (just type keys,  hit ENTER), you get the KEYS window, which shows the F key settings (see Fig 2 ); most used are F3 to submit SAS programs in the EDITOR window for execution and F4  to recall the last executed SAS program back into the EDITOR. You can tailor any F keys in this window to your preferences (again see Fig 2 ); also see  Appendix A.I   & A.II for suggested key settings and how to permanently save changed  settings in the  lab so they will not be lost after log out.

V.  Basic Structure of a SAS Program  (GoBack)

A SAS program consists  of  Data Steps  and  Proc Steps in any combination.

1.  The Data Step - builds a SAS data set (a SAS system data file), making it the active (current) data set.
2.  The Proc Step -  processes a SAS data set, usually producing statistical tables,  charts/graphs, and/or reports; a Proc   Step may  perform I/O including   I/O  with   SAS data sets; unless the data set is specified in  the Proc Step,  the active (current) data set (the one created by the most recent Data Step)  is processed.

Assume you want to do some processing of the variables AGE, SEX and EDUC using 5 cases.

1. Creating a SAS DATA Set from the Example Data: a Data Step Example (GoBack)

Type into the DMS PGM EDITOR these SAS statements (as shown in Fig 3 ) and submit for processing  (via F3 or the "Submit"  button – the one with the  running figure  on the tool bar -- again see Fig 3):
 

DATA  MYDAT; INPUT AGE SEX EDUC; CARDS; 25 1  4 27 2 6 31 1  4 33 1  6 40 2  7 RUN;

The above is a SAS Data Step  that creates working SAS data set MYDAT making it the active (current) data set for processing in other SAS  steps that follow. The "DATA MYDAT" statement starts the DATA Step while also naming it "MYDAT";  the "INPUT AGE SEX EDUC"  instructs  SAS to read three variables in free field format and to name them "AGE", "SEX", and "EDUC"; the "CARDS"  statement tells it to read the data from within the program starting with the line(s) that follow until another  SAS statement (identified by a ";") is reached or no more lines; here the "RUN:" statement ends the data while also telling SAS to execute the preceding statements (even though you may tell SAS to submit  it  -- via  F3 or the tool bar Submit icon  -- the "RUN;" statement in the program instructs SAS to  actually run (process) the SAS pgm statements; otherwise the output only shows after you submit another  SAS pgm with a "RUN;" statement. Fig 4  shows the SAS DMS after running  the example program, the record of the results showing in the LOG.

Note:  in the LOG  the complete data set name assigned to the  read data is " WORK.MYDAT"  ( again see Fig 4), indicating that it is  work data,  lost  after you leave the SAS DMS (if not permanently saved before you exit-- see 8. below  for how) The data set name "WORK.MYDAT"   is determined by taking "WORK",  the name of the scratch library where the data is stored,  and joining it with a period (".") and  "MYDAT", the name specified in the example  DATA statement "DATA MTDAT" above.

Also Note: when you submit the EDITOR for running, only  selected statments (those highlighted or all by default) are actually  submitted; thus,  in our example  the entire  EDITOR  was  submitted because there was  no explicit  selection (i.e., all programming was selected by default). To avoid having to explicitely select  the programming, when there  are  previously executed statements in the EDITOR, clear the EDITOR  before typing the new statements (either by  selecting all/pressing Delete or  clicking the Clear All  icon -- denoted by an "X" --  on the toolbar). Any erased previous  executed programming can be redeemed via the Recall cmd (F4 key), which recalls successively  previously submitted programs.
 

2. Listing the Example Data: a Proc Step Example (GoBack)

To list the example data, run the following statements by  clearing  the EDITOR (just click the toolbar "X"),  typing the statements,  and submitting them (just click the  toolbar "Submit" icon  or press F3):
 

PROC PRINT;  RUN;

The  OUTPUT window will open with the example data listed (as shown in  Fig 5); at the same time the left window becomes RESULTS  and represents the PROC PRINT output via the "Print: SAS System" item (again  Fig 5 ) which can be opened to make it appear as in  Fig. 6  by clicking the "+"; this makes it become a "-" to show that it has been clicked.  To return to the LOG-EDITOR windows, just  minimize OUTPUT (should then look as in  Fig 4 except  RESULTS on the left,  "PROC PRINT; RUN" in the EDITOR, and the  "PROC PRINT" log is add to the LOG.display) .

Note:   PROC PRINT uses the active (current) data set (assumed to be MYDAT created in  1. above); to  use an alternate set, you include the "DATA=" specification (as exemplified in  9. below, 2nd example ); you specify  the  data set with "DATA=" in any Proc Step if the active  set is not desired  (or you can't be sure which is active  -- execute PROC CONTENTS  to find out).

3.  Frequency Distributing  the Example Data: another Proc Step Example (GoBack)

To obtain a one-way frequency distribution of the example data, clear the EDITOR,  type the following, and run:

 PROC FREQ; TABLE AGE SEX EDUC; RUN;

PROC FREQ; TABLE  SEX*EDUC; RUN;

Note that here all items in the RESULTS window have been opened (by clicking all "+"s and making them minus), these items now represent the example PROC PRINT  output and the two example PROC FREQ outputs and can be used to display any one part of the output by double clicking its corresponding item in the RESULTS window (e.g., double clicking "Data Set WORK.MYDAT" under  "Print" in RESULTS -- see  Fig. 6 -- yields the output in Fig 5, double clicking "One-Way Frequencies" under "Table EDUC" in RESULTS -- again see Fig. 6) --   shows a one way frequency of EDUC in the OUTPUT window -- not shown here).

4. Sorting and Listing the Example Data By SEX (GoBack)

Run the following statements to  first sort the example data by SEX and then list by SEX
 

PROC SORT; BY SEX;
PROC PRINT; BY SEX; RUN;

5. Creating a Data Set from a TXT File Source: another  Data Step Example (GoBack)

Execute these statements in the EDITOR:
 

DATA MYDAT;
INFILE ‘D:\SAS\MYDAT.TXT’;
INPUT AGE SEX EDUC;
RUN;

6. Creating a Data Set in the DATA VIEWTABLE Instead  of Running a Data Step to Create It (GoBack)

Open VIEWTABLE by clicking TOOLS,  then Table Editor; the VIEWTABLE should appear as in Fig 7  except that all the cells are empty and the columns labels are the  default ones  A, B, and C. Now enter the example data  and  change the default variable names from A, B, C to AGE, SEX, EDUC (by clicking each name and editing it;  e.g., edit column 1's default name "A" to  "AGE"); the VIEWTABLE should now appear exactly as in Fig 7. This data. however,  does not become a working data set until saved in the SAS  WORK library; to do this, click FILE,  Save As , and in the "Save As"  box, and click "Work" in the "Contents of"  column; then  in the "Member Name" box below enter any name not listed in the 2nd column  (displays any previously created work data sets); in our example, you enter "MYDAT"  in the "Member Name" box  (should look as  in  Fig 8 where no previous "Work" data sets list in the 2nd column) and then click "Save".  The title for the  VIEWTABLE  should now show as  "(Saved As: Work.MYDAT)" instead of the default "(Untitled)"  in Fig 7.

To permanently save the VIEWTABLE data (not just make it WORK data available only for the active SAS DMS session), see  10. below .

7. Saving the Example  Data Set at Creation Time in a Data Step (GoBack)

When you run the following Data  Step, again reading the data from a file as in  5. above,  you create a permanent active (current)  data set file (not lost after exiting DMS):
 

LIBNAME LIBDIR ‘D:\SAS\’;
DATA LIBDIR MYDAT;
INFILE ‘H:\SAS\MYDAT.TXT’;
INPUT AGE SEX EDUC;
RUN;

Note how it is necessary to specify the library to store the data set (on PC/ SAS a library is identical to a directory, where  here the library is the ‘H:\SAS\’). The data set  here is stored as   SAS System file 'MYDAT.sas7bdat\'" in the 'H:SAS' folder, while being retained as the  active  working  data set. In any SAS program the complete specification of a data set  has the format  ‘libref.dataname’, where ‘libref’ references an  opened library (opened in the above example via the LIBNAME statement ,  defaulting to  WORK if not defined); and  ‘dataname’  names the data; thus the complete specification of the data set created in 1.   and  5.   above is WORK.MYDAT (WORK referencing a scratch library automatically opened by SAS, MYDAT the  specified  set name). For more about data set libraries and ways to open them, see Appendix A.IV .

8. Saving the Example Data Set after Creation in a Data Step (GoBack)

Having created  working SAS data set  MYDAT via  1. or  5.    above , you can permanently save it by running these statements:
 

 LIBNAME LIBDIR ‘H:\SAS\’;
 DATA LIBDIR.MYDAT; SET  MYDAT; RUN;

Where the active  working data set  MYDAT is specified on the SET statement, becoming  the data set created by the  Data Step, while the step itself  permanently  saves in the manner of  7. above.

Note: as with both  7. above   and  8.  here, the success of permanently saving a data set is recorded in the LOG window as shown in  Fig 9  for this example.

9. Retrieving the Example Data Set (GoBack)

To retrieve the example data set saved in 7.  or 8. .  above,  you retrieve  i n  a Data Step  and  make it the working set  or retrieve it directly by a  Proc step just for that step alone. To retrieve in the Data Step  you can run  these statements:
 

 LIBNAME LIBDIR ‘H:\SAS\’;
 DATA  MYDAT; SET LIBDIR.MYDAT; RUN;

To retrieve directly in a Proc Step, for example,  the PROC  PRINT step,   you include the ‘DATA=’ specification as follows:
 

 LIBNAME LIBDIR ‘D:\SAS\’;
 PROC PRINT DATA=LIBDIR.MYDAT;RUN;

10. Saving,  Retrieving, and Printing a DMS Window (GoBack)

You  can save the contents of  a  DMS window (except the DATA VIEWTABLE   - -  see   below  )  using the convention for saving most application windows (make the window active by clicking in it, then click FILE, then Save As.,  etc. ); to retrieve it's similarly conventional  (click in it to make active, click FILE, then Open, etc. --   works with  the  DATA VIEWTABLE  too); to print,  it's also similarly conventional (make it active by clicking in it or by clicking its icon  at the bottom of the DMS, then click FILE, then Print, etc.) with these exceptions:

1. To print any  part of the OUTPUT or  LOG, select  the desired areas  to print, and print making sure that the  Selection option in the "Page Range" of the "Print" box is selected (i.e., shows at dot ".") before printing; you can also print a selection of OUTPUT by right clicking a corresponding item in the RESULTS window (e.g., the Table Age item  in  Fig 6 to print the one way frequency of Age or the Freq item above Age to print all three one way tables -- again Fig 6 ) and then clicking Print.

1. The Print box for the DATA VIEWTABLE  is a little less conventional; it has options for printing just the screen or the entire table and for printing by row or columns.

To save the DATA VIEWTABLE in an existing library, click Save As from FILE, then the desired library (e.g., Work as shown in Fig 8), then type the data set name (e.g., MYDAT) in the "Member Name"  text box, and click OK; the DATA VIEWTABLE is then save as a SAS data set in the WORK library (e.g., as data set MYDAT).

11. More SAS Programming with the Example Data (GoBack)
 

(a)  Creating Two Data Sets While Manipulating the Data (GoBack)

 
The following Data Steps assumes  working data set MYDAT has been created with  the example data in  1 above.
 

DATA MYOLDAT; SET MYDAT;
IF AGE  < 30 THEN DELETE;
DATA  MYRECAGE; SET  MYDAT;
IF AGE < 30 THEN RECAGE=1;
ELSE RECAGE=2;RUN;

where  MYOLD AT contains only cases where AGE >= 30 and MYRECAGE  re-codes age into 1s and 2s to represent  those < 30 and >= 30, respectively; you now have two working data sets, MYOLDAT and MYRECAGE, the latter being the active (current) working set. Assuming you want to print these sets out with no confusion about what set you are printing (e.g.,  which is active?), you use the ‘DATA=’ in the following Proc Steps:
 

PROC PRINT DATA=MYOLDAT;
PROC PRINT DATA=MYRECAGE;RUN;

Note: In the above  Data Steps  the library reference (libref) for the data set is omitted in the  "DATA" statement, making the  data sets MYOLD and MYRECAGE scratch  (members of the WORK library) because  "libref"   defaults to WORK (as the LOG window will indicate).

(b) A Proc Step to Perform Multiple Regression (GoBack)

The following GLM (Generalized Least Squares Model)  Proc Step does a multiple regression with EDUC dependent and AGE and SEX independent (assuming the active working  data is the example data in its original form):
 

PROC GLM; MODEL EDUC = SEX AGE;
RUN;

Note  how little is required to specify the analysis if you use the defaults and that only a modest adjustment is required to do an analysis of variance with essentially the same model  (using category  variables  RECAGE and SEX as dependents  instead of interval variable AGE and  category variable SEX treated as interval) as follows:
 

PROC GLM   DATA=MYRECAGE;
CLASS RECAGE SEX;
MODEL  EDUC =RECAGE|SEX;
RUN;

Also note how the data set MYRECAGE (created in  (a) above) is accessed (via the ‘DATA=’ spec) to make available  the class variable RECAGE.
 

Although the SAS/Windows  Help is vast, the following areas of help should go a long way to helping you with SAS/Windows:

1. For the overview of SAS help "Accessing  the SAS Help System", run "Help Help"  in the SAS DMS cmd window (as shown in upper-left Fig. 1); then click Display in the "Topics Found" box..
2. For help with a specific SAS window (e.g.., the EDITOR), run "Help Windows" in the SAS DMS cmd window (again upper-left Fig. 1), select "SAS Window Index" from the "Topics Found" box and click "Display"; a list of all possible SAS Windows will show, click on any one for help with that window.
3. For help with the DMS cmds specific to SAS Windows, open "SAS Help and Documentation" (click the "Help"  icon on the Tool Bar, Fig. 1) , then the "Index"  tab, and  enter "Commands" in the "keyword"  text box to list the commands below; click any one for help with that command (e.g, the "Clear" cmd to clear a window); this will either immediately give  help for that command or list commands associated with it and from this list you click it again for help with it.(e.g., with "Cleaar" you list cmds associated with a window, and from this click "Clear" again for help with "Clear").
4. For help with the SAS Data Step,  open "SAS Help and Documentation" (click the "Help"  icon on the Tool Bar, Fig. 1) , then the "Index"  tab, and  enter "Data Step"  in the keyword  text box to list Data Step items, for help with a specific Data Step statement including the "DATA" statement itself, enter the statement name followed by "statement" (e.g., for help with "INPUT", type "INPUT statement"  or help withe "DATA", key "DATA statement").
5. For Proc Step help,  run "Help Procedure Name"  in the SAS DMS cmd window (again as shown in upper-left Fig. 1) where "Procedure Name"  is the Proc Step procedure (e.g., "PRINT", "FREQ", or "GLM'S"); with some of these  "PROCs",  you get instant help, with others, the Topics Found box opens and you select the topic that best helps with the "PROC" (e.g., this hapens with the Print Proc such that you select "The Print Procedure: Syntax Print" ) and click Display.
6. For sample SAS programs, open "SAS Help and Documentation" (click the "Help" icon on the Tool Bar, Fig. 1)  and then the "Contents" tab; now click "Learning to Use SAS", then "Sample SAS Programs".

To access WEB SAS Online Documentation,  click "Help" on the menu in Fig. 1, then "SAS on the WEB"; this lists  the following items which you can click now to access the corresponding WEB Page: Technical Support, Frequently Asked Questions, Send Feedback, and SAS Institue Home Page.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Appendix A More about SAS/Windows I. Your SAS F KEY Settings (GoBack)  The default SAS F key settings as shown in  Fig 2  can be changed by opening the KEYS window (by (1) clicking HELP, then Keys  or (2) executing  Keys in the command window  -- upper left Fig 2  or (3) just pressing F9)  and  editing  the settings to whatever desired; any changes  go immediately into effect, even before you  close the KEYS window. In the W & M computer labs, these new settings remain until you log out, with the keys reverting to the defaults shown in Fig 2  when you log back in;  see II below  for how in the labs to  save altered (tailored)  SAS F KEY settings and then in a new log access them in SAS. If on the other  hand you are using your own PC,  any new  settings should remain on your hard drive  until you change them, automatically available any time  you start SAS.

Most of the  SAS DMS cmds that you can set the keys are listed in  help as described in   VII. 3. above; you can set a key to multiple cmds, separating them  by semicolons  (";"s) as shown for F8 in the Keys window (Fig. 2) where it is set to the cmds "zoom off; submit"  (F8 here  would normally be used  when you are in a maximize EDITOR; then when pressed, F8 would  un zoom it to medium size, while sending selected SAS statements to the  DMS for execution).

You might, for example, wish to set F12 (not set by default as shown in Fig. 2)  to the "Clear" cmd, allowing you to  use F12 rather then the less convenient keys Ctrl-E (set by default  to "Clear"  -- not shwon in  Fig. 2). Or  you might want to modify F6 in Fig. 2 from just "log" to "log; zoom on", so you can in one depression of F6 make  the LOG window active and  full size.

II.  Saving and Retrieving Your SAS F KEY Settings in the Labs (GoBack)

As mentioned in  I. above new SAS KEY settings remain until you log out;  a  new log in  reverts to the defaults shown in
Fig 2. The following procedure  will save new settings  and gets them back in another log in session:

Sometime after exiting SAS after making the new KEY settings but  before logging out,  copy  (using Windows Explorer) this SAS catalog  folder, which has the new settings,  onto  your "H:", USB Memeory Key, or Diskette:

       C:\Temp\MY SAS FILES\V9\PROFILE.SAS7BCAT (the file in Windows Explorer is listed as a SAS System Category folder, the icon showing in folder yellow with a red dot).

With a new log in before starting SAS, restore the SAS categary folder "PROFILE.SAS7BCAT"  to  the same location on the PC that you logged in;  you can do this by using "Windows Explorer" to  copy  "PROFILE.SAS7BCAT"  on your "H:", USB Memory Key, or Diskette to

        C:\Temp\MY SAS FILES\9V\
 

As mentioned in  II above in the main text, SAS provides the menu facilities SAS/Assist,  which is similar to SPSS/Windows; although SAS/Assist  does not support all features of SAS, it  does, however,  get  results without  your doing the SAS programming (the program automatically created  by SAS/Assist and shown  in the LOG window after execution). You are welcomed to try it;  to  get you started we take you through SAS/Assist to do  a simple bar chart of the variable EDUC in the  above example data.

To open SAS/Assist, click SOLUTIONS  on the main menu (see Fig 1), then "ASSIST; a SAS/Assist Welcome" box should display; click Continue and keep clicking Continue with successive boxes  until the "SAS/Assist: Work Place" window  appears with a  menu item table as in Fig 11 (where we have closed the left window Results/Explorer(1)). Each  item  leads to a drop down menu  which should give you an idea of what's included under a given item in the  WorkPlace  window  (e.g.,  see Fig 12  for the "GRAPHICS" drop down  menu). Some items in the drop down lead to drop down sub menus (e.g., the "Plots" item in Fig 12 ).  Without going into all the items in the SAS/Assist WorkPlace Menu,  we mention these:  the  "REPORT WRITING" item  (again see Fig 11 ) displays your  data  in lists, tables, reports, and summary  statistics;  the "DATA ANALYSIS" item outputs  summary statistics, frequencies,  simple  correlations,  regression analysis, analysis of variance, multivariate analysis, time series analysis, etc.; the "GRAPHICS" item  provides everything graphical about your data from bar charts to line plots (as seen in Fig 12).  You may also see some  overlap in going from one  menu to  another; thus  the  "Summary Statistics" item appears in a sub menu when you  click   REPORT WRITING's  "Utilities"  item  and  also when you  click  DATA ANALYSIS's  "Elementary Statistics"  item (still again  Fig 11 for the "SAS/Assist WorkPlace").

To get the example  bar chart, you click  "GRAPHICS"  (Fig 11);  as mentioned earlier, this displays the "GRAPHICS" menu shown in  Fig 12;  click the "BAR CHARTS" item and you get the "Bar Charts" dialog box as shown in Fig 13 . To output  a simple 2D  bar chart with veritcal bars,  which is all you  are going to do here, you fill in only the required  specifications, letting everything else default. As  indicated in Fig 13  you  are required to specify the  "Table" (upper left Fig 13 )  which is the same as  a SAS  data set  and the "Chart column" (just  below the chart pattern in  Fig 13), the  variable in the data  that you want to bar chart . To do the first, you click "Table" to get a list of  SAS data sets found in currently opened SAS libraries.

We  now digress  and explain/review how SAS makes data sets available when you are  in the SAS DMS, including of course  SAS/Assist. The  SAS DMS, unlike other applications  such as SPSS/Windows  in which you access a data file by  opening it,  requires you to open instead a  SAS library (a disk directory/folder, e.g., "H:\SAS" that contains  SAS data set file(s)); then the data of any data set file found in the library becomes available anywhere in the DMS (SAS programs,  SAS/Assist, and the   SAS VIEWTABLE). Since a  file with the extension  "sas7bdat" (e.g., "mydat.sas7bdat") is a SAS System Data File and therefore a  SAS data set,  the data sets in all   files with the "sas7bdat" extension  in an  opened  SAS library can be accessed throughout DMS  (e.g., the data set in  file "H:\SAS\mydat.sas7bdat"  after opening "H:\SAS\" as a SAS library) . There are several ways to open a SAS library and these are discussed at length in  IV.B below; for now, consider the WORK library, a scratch folder  that SAS automatically opens when you open SAS DMS and subsequently SAS/Assist in the labs. Assume that you have done  either  VI.1 , VI.5 , or  VI.6  above,   to create the data set WORK.MYDAT in the WORK library and make it  available else where in the SAS DMS including of course SAS/Assist .

We now go  back to our example  above  where you  click "Table" in  Fig 13; to specify your source data.  The "Select Table" dialog box opens, listing in the "Libraries" column all currently opened  libraries, WORK being one of them (plus others may list  also automatically opened by SAS); click WORK and  all available data sets in the scratch WORK library  list in the "Tables" column of the "Select Tables" box (see Fig 14) ;  the example data MYDAT is  one of them (the others autoamtically provided by SAS for utility purposes); when you  click MYDAT,  the example data set WORK.MYDAT  is  selected  as shown in the "Table" sub box at the top of  the "Table Select" box in Fig 14. Click OK  and the example data set "WORK.MYDAT" becomes the  "Table" source data for the bar charts  as shown in Fig. 15.

Now click "Chart column" (as it shows in  Fig 13 ), select (double click)  EDUC which lists with the variables AGE and SEX in a "Select Table Variables" dialog box (not shown); Fig 15 shows the results with   EDUC the  designated "Chart variable".

To run your specified Bar Chart in Fig 15  click Run  on the main menu,  then Submit; your Bar Chart of EDUC should now appear as in Fig 16, the results of the execution in the LOG window, Fig 17; from the latter you can get a good idea of the programming that you generated via SAS/Assist in order to create the Bar Chart. To return to the "Primary Menu" (or any place  left opened that your creation of the Bar Chart took you), you can  press  successively the F3 key (or any key  set to "end" in the KEYS window); this  backtracks you through  previously opened  windows/boxes  until you are where you want to be (including exiting SAS/Assist). Note: remember that if you  exit SAS/Assist this way,  the F key used to leave it now  submits any SAS pgm statements  in the PGM EDITOR (assuming it active); thus successively pressing the F key  many times to leave SAS/Assist may inadvertently  submit a  pgm in the EDITOR.

IV.  SAS Data Set Libraries and  Ways to  Open Them in DMS (GoBack)
 

A. What is a SAS Data Set Library/How used?

In the SAS/DMS a SAS data set is  associated with a library for either saving or accessing it; a given SAS library is opened  as an  area of  disk storage  (e.g., either a folder such as "H:\SAS" or the root  "H:\"); thus, the complete name of a data set referenced in the DMS has this form:

      libref.dataname
 

Here "libref" is the name of library that has been opened in  DMS and contains  the data set;   "dataname" is the name of the data   Examples:

1. The data set "WORK.MYDAT": created in VI.1 above  (see LOG in  Fig 4  for the results). It is contained in the "WORK" scratch library that the SAS/DMS automatically opens; "MYDAT" is the example data that VI.1  reads. Fig 8 in the Save As box for saving the VIEWTABLE in "WORK"  lists  in the "Contents of" sub window, all libraries automatically opened by SAS including "WORK; here the "WORK" library listed at the bottom, represents a temporary (scratch) folder on the "C:" hard drive;  in Fig 8 "WORK" has been selected (highlighted) so that any data sets  in  "WORK" for the active  SAS DMS session are listed; currently non show in Fig 8, but once the data in the VIEWTABLE in Fig 8 is saved, it will show up as MYDAT in Fig 8  when Save As is opened again..
2. The data set "LIBDIR.MYDAT": created in the programming of  VI.7. The data comes from the data set "WORK.DATA" (assumed produced in VI.1 above) and  becomes the  created data of the Data Step; it  is saved in the "LIBDIR" library,  defined as the disk folder "H:\SAS"; thence the  full data set name  "LIBDIR.MYDAT"  where the "MYDAT" dataname  is the same as the source,  the library reference changing  from "WORK" to "LIBDIR". Note:  the "MYDAT" dataname is  arbitrary for the new data set and could be something else, but by making it  "MYDAT" again you can keep a constant tag on   the same data.

     dataname.sas7bdat

where dataname is the same as that in the complete data set name which  again has the form "libname.dataname" and is exemplified  in example 2. above; thus the  file that  houses the "MYDAT data is  "mydat.sas7bdat" and is located in the "H:\SAS" folder and has the path   "H:\SAS\mydat.sas7bdat".

Any SAS data set library such as LIBDIR that has been opened in the SAS/DMS permits accessing any data sets in the library that are in files with the  extensions "sas7bdat" (listed in Windows Explorer under Type as "SAS System Data Set"); they  are  located in the disk directory/folder defined for the library (again the  above example 2   folder  "H:\SAS' for the  "LIBDIR" library example); any part of the DMS can access these data sets: (1) executed programs in the EDITOR, (2)  the VIEWTABLE, and (3) SAS/Assist.

B. Ways to Open a SAS Data Set Library

A SAS library can be opened both for saving and accessing SAS data sets and SAS catalogs (special SAS storage for saving information such as Key settings); here we confine the use of the SAS library to SAS data sets.

1. Opening a SAS Scratch WORK Library

The SAS "WORK" library automatically opens when you start SAS/DMS; "WORK" houses all the temporary data sets created in DMS; e.g., the temp data set "WORK.MYDAT" discussed in  B.1 above. Any data set referenced in DMS without the library reference  (e.g., "MYDAT" instead of "WORK.MYDAT") defaults the library reference to "WORK", a common practice  as illustrated in  the SAS pgm  DATA statement of VI.1  and SET statement of VI.8 above.

2. Opening a SAS Library with the "LIBNAME" Pgm Statement

The obvious way to open any SAS library (i.e., any but the "WORK" library discussed in 1. above ) is by running the "LIBNAME" SAS statement in the PGM EDITOR; "LIBNAME"  has this format:

      LIBNAME libref  path

where "libref" is arbitrary and references  (gives a handle to) the opened library and "path" identifies the library's disk location (where data set files  -- those with "sas7bdat" extensions -- are stored). SAS pgm examples in  VI.7  and VI.8  illustrate using "LIBNAME" to open and then save a data set; the examples in  VI.9  exemplify the statement's use for just accessing  a data set. Other data sets that happen to be located in the same library are also available once the library is opened; thus, after executing the   2nd example pgm in VI.9 above, if the data set MYDAT2 is also in the "LIBDIR" library (specifically in file "H:\SAS\MYDAT2.sas7bdat") then that data set is accessible and can be similarly used  in  PROC PRINT,  specifying this time  "DATA=LIBDIR.MYDAT2" (again see VI.9, 2nd example).

3. Opening a SAS Library Via  the Toolbar "SAS Explorer (2)"  Icon (just left of the "Run" icon  -- see  Fig. 1 )

The "Explorer (2)"   icon when  clicked opens the "EXPLORER (2) SAS" Environment window (see  Fig 18); this not only allows you to open a library  (by right clicking Libraries , then New --  again see Fig 18), but also see what  libraries are  already open plus the data sets and catalogs within each (we shall ignore catalogs). In Fig 18   the contents of the familiar scratch "Work" library of  B.1  are listed in the right sub window (the result of clicking "Work" in the left sub window), showing here the single  data set "Mydat"; we shall assume you created it by running the SAS pgm  in   VI.1  above. The other opened libraries in the left sub window of Fig 18) are  automatically opened by SAS (just like "Work"); we shall ignore these in addition to  the  catalogs.

As mentioned above you open a library by right clicking Libraries in EXPLORER (2)  and then clicking  New;  which  opens the "New Library" box (as shown in  Fig 18); here you simply type in an arbitrary library reference name in the Name entry sub box  (e.g., "LIBDIR" in Fig 18) and its path/folder in the "Path:" box;  if you prefer, you can do the latter by  clicking Browse  and selecting the folder from a drive list. After you click OK  in the "New Library" box, your "LIBDIR" library in "H:\SAS\" lists under Libraries in  "Explorer (2)"  (Fig 19, left sub window) ; when "LIBDIR" is clicked  (thus selecting it), its contents  lists in the right sub window;  again see Fig 19, noting "LIBDIR"'s  data sets as MYDAT and MYDAT2 (assumed  created in previous SAS/DMS session(s)).  The data in MYDAT and MYDAT2 are  now available throughout the SAS/DMS.

Note: alternately you can directly open the "New Library" box by clicking its icon just to the left of the "Explorer (2)" icon on the toolbar; here you can open a SAS library without going through the ""Explorer (2)".    This does not, however, let you immediately see the results, this  occurs with  "Explorer (2)"  when you  OK the "New Library" box in Fig 18  and  then click  LIBDIR in Fig 19. to show that  the data sets MYDAT and MYDAT2 are available in LIBDIR.

Also Note:  in our SAS/Windows Introduction we  ignored the "Explorer (1)" window,  located on the left of DMS (see Fig. 1); this is because even though "Explorer (1)"  acts much like "Explorer (2)", it doesn't  have  all the conveniences, including two sub windows, which can list the libraries on the left and their contents on the right.   Also in "Explorer (1)"  it's  more difficult to back up to higher levers (e.g., from a list of  libraries  back to the  display of  Fig. 1; requiring you to click  the Up One Level item in the VIEW menu.

4. Opening a SAS Library While in the DATA VIEWTABLE  Window

In  VI.6  we discussed how to use the DATA VIEWTABLE to enter data and assign it to the WORK library and make it  scratch (WORK) data;  in  VI.10  we showed how to save the VIEWTABLE into a  data set file in a library  (see VI.6for how to open the VIEWTABLE).   You can also while in the VIEWTABLE open a library and retrieve a data set from a SAS library into the VIEWTABLE (instead of typing the data into the table);  in the process  you may have to open a library (if not already opened) which remains open for the SAS/DMS session.  Thus another way to open a SAS library which doesn't require you to  retrieve data if just opening the library is your objective, but more than  likely you are opening it  to get data into the VIEWTABLE so we cover that too.

To open a SAS library while in the VIEWTABLE (again see VI.6 for how to open), click FILE, then Open, and in the "Open" dialog box, click the "New Library" icon (left most icon, upper right -- see Fig 20 ); this opens the "New Library box and you proceed to open a library, e.g., folder "H:\SAS" as library LIBDIR as shown in Fig 20 just before you click OK to open the example LIBDIR library. Fig 21  shows the results after you next click (select) LIBDIR in the "Contents of" left sub window of the "Open" box; here the right sub window lists the data sets "MYDAT" and "MYDAT2" as members of LIBDIR, available for opening (retrieving)  into  the VIEWTABLE.

In  Fig 21  you select MYDAT2 to open by just clicking  it (thus highlighting it). If you just want to browse the data in MYDAT2 in VIEWTABLE, you  just click Open and the data appears in the VIEWTABLE, unchangeable. If you want to edit MYDAT2 ( e.g., change some  values  or add new rows), you click Advanced and then the Advanced tab in the emerging "Advanced"  box (see Fig 21 ); then double click the tiny circle next to Edit and  click OK ; in the "Open" box click Open.(again see Fig 21); the data in MYDAT2 should appear in the VIEWTABLE ready for editing. To add data rows  you right click anywhere in the left  most column of the VEWTABLE (the column with case numbers), then click Add Row;  only a new row will show and you enter the new data; repeat for each new row. To  commit the current new row and view/edit both old and new data, again right click anywhere in the left most  column,  then click Commit New Row.
 

Figure 1 (SAS DMS after Start Up)

Figure 2 (The Keys Window after Opening with the "keys" Command)

 

Figure 3 (The  Example Program after Typing into the PGM EDITOR)

Figure 4 (The DMS  after Running  the Pgm to Read the Example Data)

Figure 5 (The OUTPUT Window after Running Proc Print to List Data)

Figure 6 (OUTPUT of  Proc Freq:  a Two-Way of  SEX vs. EDUC)

Figure 7 (The VIEWTABLE after Entering Example Data/Names)

Figure 8 (" Save As" to Save VIEWTABLE as Active WORK Data with Name MYDAT)

Figure 9 (The LOG after Running SAS to Permanently Save MYDAT)

Figure 10 (Example SAS Help:  the Syntax of  Proc  PRINT)

 

Figure 11 (The SAS/Assist WorkPlace Window                     -- Results/Explorer(1) Closed)

 
 

Figure 12 (Graphics Menu after Clicking  Graphics Icon in Fig 11)

 

Figure 13 (The "Bar Charts" Dialog  Window)

 
 

Figure 14 (The Select Table Box After Selecting  WORK.MYDAT)

 

Figure 15 (The "Bar Charts" Box Ready to Run)

 

Figure 16 (Example Bar Chart of EDUC Created via SAS/Assist)

 

Figure 17 (Last of the Log  from  Running the SAS/Assist  Bar Chart Box in Fig 15 )

 

Figure 18 (EXPLORER (2) after Listing  WORK Library Contents, then Opening New Library to  Define/Open  Library "LIBDIR" at "H:\SAS")

 

Figure 19 (The EXPLORER(2) Listing  LIBDIR Data Sets after  Opening It in Fig 18)

 

Figure 20 (The VIEWTABLE Open Dialog Box after Opening  New Library to Define/Open Library  LIBDIR at "H:\SAS")

 

Figure 21 (The Advanced Box  "Edit" Doubled Clicked to Open                     Mydat2  into the  VIEWTABLE in the Edit Mode)