Main Windows of the SAS Windowing Environment


Main Windows of the SAS Windowing Environment

List of SAS Windows and Window Commands

The basic SAS windows are the Explorer, Results, Program Editor, Log, and Output windows, but there are more than thirty other windows to help you with such things as printing and fine-tuning your SAS session.

The following table lists all portable SAS windows and the commands that open them.

Note: Additional information about how many of these windows work can be found by clicking the help button inside each window.

Table 18.2: List of Portable SAS Windows and Window Opening Commands

Window Name

Window Command(s)

Define a new previewer 'Defining a New Previewer' on page 266

DMPRTCREATE PREVIEWER

Define a new printer 'Defining a New Printer'on page 256

DMPRTCREATE PRINTER

Distributed Multidimensional Metadata

MDMDDB [*]

Documents

ODSDOCUMENTS

Explorer

ACCESS, BUILD, CATALOG, DIR, EXPLORER, FILENAME, LIBNAME, V6CAT, V6DIR, V6FILENAME, V6LIBNAME

Explorer Options

DMEXPOPTS

EFI (External File Interface)

EFI [*]

File Shortcut Assignment

DMFILEASSIGN

Find

EXPFIND

Font (host-specific)

DLGFONT [*]

Footnotes

FOOTNOTES

FSBrowse

FSBROWSE

FSEdit

FSEDIT

FSForm

FSFORM formname

FSLetter

FSLETTER

FSList

FSLIST

FSView

FSVIEW

Help

HELP

Keys

KEYS

Log

LOG

Metadata Browser

METABROWSE [*]

Metafind

METAFIND

Metadata Server Connections

METACON

My Favorite Folders

EXPROOT FILES [*]

New Library

DMLIBASSIGN

Notepad

NOTEPAD, NOTE, FILEPAD filename

Options (SAS system options)

OPTIONS

Output

OUTPUT, OUT, LISTING, LIST, LST

Page Setup

DMPAGESETUP

Password

SETPASSWORD (followed by a two-level data set name)

Preferences (host-specific)

DLGPREF [*]

Print

DMPRINT

Print Setup

DMPRTSETUP

Printer Properties

DMPRTPROPS

Program Editor

PROGRAM, PGM

Properties

VAR libref.SAS-data-set , V6VAR libref.SAS-data-set

Query

QUERY

Registry Editor

REGEDIT

Results

ODSRESULTS

SAS/AF

AF, AFA

SAS/ASSIST

ASSIST

SASCOLOR

SASCOLOR

SAS/EIS [*]

EIS

System Options

OPTIONS

Templates

ODSTEMPLATES

Titles

TITLES

Tool Editor (host-specific)

TOOLEDIT [*]

Viewtable

VIEWTABLE, VT

[*] Window commands marked with * are not supported under z/OS.

Note: Some additional SAS windows that are specific to your operating environment may also be available. Refer to the SAS documentation for your operating environment for more information.

The Five Main Windows in the Windowing Environment

Overview

The five main windows in SAS are: Explorer, Results, Program Editor, Log, and Output windows.

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Display 18.7: Default View of SAS Windowing Environment (Microsoft Windows)

Operating Environment Information: The arrangement of your SAS windows depends on your operating environment. For example, in the Microsoft Windows operating environment, the Editor window appears instead of the Program Editor.

SAS Explorer Window

Use to

View, add or delete files, libraries, shortcuts.

Open by

Typing EXPLORER in the command line, or select

View Explorer

Description

The Explorer window enables you to manage your files in the windowing environment. You can use the SAS Explorer to do the following tasks :

  • view lists of your SAS files

  • create shortcuts to external files

  • create new SAS files

  • open any SAS file and view its contents

  • move, copy, and delete files

  • open related windows, such as the new library window.

You can display the Explorer window with or without a tree view of its contents.

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Display 18.8: SAS Explorer, with Tree View, Microsoft Windows Operating Environment
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Display 18.9: SAS Explorer, Without Tree View, Microsoft Windows Operating Environment

Note: You can resize the Explorer window by dragging an edge or a corner of the window. You can resize the left and right panes of the Explorer window by clicking the split bar between the two panes and dragging it to the right or left.

Exploring Files with the SAS Explorer

You can use the SAS Explorer to explore and manage SAS files and other files. In the Explorer window, you can view and manage your SAS files, which are stored in libraries. A library is a storage location for SAS files and catalogs. By default, SAS defines several libraries for you.

This example uses the SAS Explorer to display the contents of a library:

  1. In the Explorer window, double-click Libraries . The active libraries are listed.

    click to expand
    Display 18.10: Typical Explorer Window, Without Tree View, Showing Active Libraries

  2. Double-click the Sashelp library. All members of the Sashelp library are listed.

    click to expand
    Display 18.11: Explorer Window, Without Tree View, Showing the Contents of a Sashelp Library

  3. Move back up to the top level of the Explorer window by clicking twice on the Up One Level selection under View on the toolbar.

Using SAS Explorer to Assign File Shortcuts ( filerefs )

A file shortcut is also known as a file reference or fileref. Filerefs save you programming time by enabling you to assign a nickname to a commonly used file. You can use the FILENAME statement to create a fileref or you can use the file shortcut assignment window from SAS Explorer.

The following example shows you how to create a file shortcut with SAS Explorer.

  1. In the top level of the Explorer window, select File Shortcuts .

  2. Select

    File New

    The File Shortcut Assignment window appears.

    click to expand
    Display 18.12: File Shortcut Assignment Window

  3. Type a name in the Name field (up to eight alphanumeric characters ). This name is the file shortcut reference (fileref), and you can use it to point to an external file.

  4. Select the Method that you want to use for the file shortcut. The devices that are available from the Method drop-down list depend on your operating environment. DISK is the default (if available for your operating environment). See your operating environment documentation for more information.

  5. Select Enable at Startup if you want SAS to automatically assign the file shortcut each time that SAS starts. This option is not available for all file shortcut methods . If it is not available, the Enable at Startup check box is disabled. If you want to stop a file shortcut from being enabled at startup, select the file shortcut in the SAS Explorer window, and then select Delete from the pop-up menu.

  6. Fill in the fields of the Method Information area. The fields available in this area depend on the method that you selected.

    Note: Selecting a new method type erases any entries that you may have made in the Method information field.

  7. Select OK to create the new file shortcut. The file shortcut appears in the File Shortcut folder of the SAS Explorer window.

Using SAS Explorer to Copy a SAS Data Set

This example shows you how to copy a data set called Prdsale, which is a sample data file included when you install SAS software.

  1. Open the Explorer window by selecting

    View Explorer

    click to expand
    Display 18.13: SAS Explorer in Tree View Mode, Showing Some Members of a Sashelp Library

  2. In the left pane, single-click the Sashelp library to show the library contents in the right pane. Scroll to the icon for the Prdsale data set.

  3. Right-click the Prdsale data set.

  4. Select Copy from the menu.

  5. Right-click the Work Library.

  6. Select Paste from the menu.

  7. The Prdsale data set appears in the contents of the Work Library.

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Display 18.14: SAS Explorer In Tree View Mode, Showing a File in a Work Library

Because the contents of the Work library are temporary, this copy of the Prdsale data set will be deleted when you end your SAS session.

Using SAS Explorer to Rename a File

You can use SAS Explorer to rename anything in a SAS library that is not write protected. This set of instructions outlines how to use SAS Explorer to rename a data set:

  1. Open SAS Explorer and click on a library. A list of files in the library appears.

  2. Select the file you want to rename and right-click it. A pop-up menu appears.

  3. Select Rename from the pop-up menu. A Rename window appears, containing the name of the file you selected, and a blank space for typing in the new name.

  4. Type in the new name and click OK.

Note: Changing a file name may cause a SAS program that uses the old file name to stop working.

Using SAS Explorer to View Details about Files

You can use the View menu to view the contents of a library with large icons or small icons, as a list, and with details displayed. This example shows you how use Explorer to view the details for the Sashelp.Prdsale data set.

  1. Open the Sashelp library.

  2. Select

    View Details

    from the menu. Information about the files is displayed.

    Note: The DETAILS system option controls how many details you can see about a data set. If you enable the DETAILS system option, you can see additional row and column information in the Explorer window.

  3. Resize the Details columns by moving the pointer over the separator bar between the detail fields. When the pointer changes to a resizing tool, click and drag the separator bar to get the desired size .

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Display 18.15: Explorer Window with Pointer in Position (between Name and Engine) to Resize Columns. DETAILS Option Set to NODETAILS
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Display 18.16: Explorer Window with DETAILS Option Enabled

For more information about the DETAILS system option, see the SAS Language Reference: Dictionary .

Using SAS Explorer to Sort Files

Files in the Explorer window are sorted alphabetically by file name. You can sort by any column in ascending or descending order:

  1. Open the Sashelp library.

  2. Click the Type column to sort the files by file type.

  3. Click the Type column again to reverse the sort order.

  4. To return the files to their original order, select

    View Refresh

Using SAS Explorer to Open a File

You can view the contents of SAS files directly from the Explorer window:

  1. Double-click the Sashelp library.

  2. Find the Prdsale data set in the list and double-click it to open it. The table opens in the VIEWTABLE window in browse mode.

  3. When you are finished looking at the data in the data set, select

    File Close

    from the VIEWTABLE window.

  4. Return to the top level of the Explorer window.

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Display 18.17: Viewtable Window Displaying a Data Set

Using SAS Explorer and NOTEPAD to Create and Save a Program

In addition to the NOTEPAD, which is described here, you can also use the Program Editor (or Editor in some operating systems) to create and save programs. You can also use NOTEPAD and the Program Editor to work on two programs in the same session.

The following set of instructions shows you how to create and save a SAS program:

  1. In the top level of the Explorer window, select

    File New

  2. Select Source Program , and click OK. The NOTEPAD window appears.

  3. Type the following program into the NOTEPAD window:

     proc options;  run; 
  4. Select

    Run Submit

    As a result, the Log window lists the settings for your system options.

  5. Select

    File Save As

  6. With the default directory selected, type sysopt.sas in the File name box.

  7. Click OK or Save.

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Display 18.18: SAS Notepad, with a Program

To recall and run the program that you just saved, follow this set of instructions:

  1. Select

    File Open

  2. From the menu, select the library where you saved your program, if that library is not already available.

  3. Select sysopt.sas (the program you just saved) from the menu. The program appears in NOTEPAD.

  4. Select

    Run Submit

Program Editor Window

Purpose

Compose, edit, and submit SAS programs.

To open

Type PROGRAM in a command line, or select

View Program Editor

Details

In the Program Editor window, you can enter, edit, and submit SAS programs. To open your SAS programs in the SAS windowing environment, you can drag and drop them onto the Program Editor window.

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Display 18.19: Program Editor Window, with a Sample Program

This set of instructions shows you how to use the Program Editor to create and save a SAS program, submit the program, and view and save your results.

Create and Save a Program

  1. In the top level of the Explorer window, select

    File New

  2. Select Source Program and click OK.

  3. Type the following program into the Editor or Program Editor window:

     proc datasets lib=sasuser;  run;  quit; 
  4. This program prints a listing of the contents of the SASUSER library (or to the log on z/OS).

  5. Click

    Run Submit

    to run the program.

  6. Click

    File Save as

    to save the program.

  7. Type a name and select a location for the file in the Save as window.

Operating Environment Information: In the Microsoft Windows operating environment, the Results window is docked along with the Explorer window. When a program produces output, the Results window comes to the front and overlays the Explorer window.

Log Window

Purpose

View messages about your SAS session and SAS programs.

To open

Type LOG in a command line, or select

View Log

Details

The Log window displays messages about your SAS session and any SAS programs you submit. If the program you submit has unexpected results, the SAS log is usually the first place you look to gather clues about what changes you need to make in order to get the intended results.

Note: To keep the lines of your log from wrapping when your window is maximized, use the LINESIZE= system option.

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Display 18.20: Log Window

Output Window

Purpose

View the output of SAS programs

To open

Type OUTPUT in a command line, or type LISTING in a command line, or select

View Output

Details

In the Output window, you can browse output from SAS programs that you submit. By default, the Output window is positioned behind the other windows. When you create output, the Output window automatically moves to the front of your display.

Note: To keep the lines of your output from wrapping when your window is maximized, use the LINESIZE= system option.

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Display 18.21: Output Window

Results Window

Purpose

View the output from running a SAS program.

To open

Type ODSRESULTS in a command line, or select

 

View Results

Details

The Results window uses a tree structure to display various types of output that you may have while you are running SAS. You can view, save, and print individual items of output. By default, the Results window is positioned behind the Explorer window and it is empty until you submit a SAS program that creates output. Then the Results window moves to the front of your display.

To use the Results window, you first run a SAS program that generates output. You can run any SAS program that creates output, such as the following program, which creates a graph with PROC PLOT.

 options linesize=80;     data generate;        do x=0 to 100 by 2;           y=2.54+3.83*x;           output;        end;     run;     proc plot data=generate;        plot y*x;     run; 

After running a program that produces output, the results window adds a line indicating that the output was successfully generated. You can then select this output from the Results Window and view it.

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Display 18.22: Results Window, Showing an Output List

New Library Window

Purpose

Assign a new library.

To open

Type DMLIBASSIGN in a command line, or from the Explorer window, select

 

File New

Details

The New Library Window makes it easy to create libraries. After you create a new library, you can use SAS Explorer to associate SAS files, such as data sets, catalogs, and programs, with the library. By default, SAS software defines several libraries for you (including Sashelp, Sasuser, and Work).

When you define a library, you specify a location for your SAS files. When you undefine a SAS library, SAS no longer has access to the contents of the library. However, the contents of the library still exist in your operating environment. After you create a library, you can manage SAS files within it.

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Display 18.23: New Library Window

Operating Environment Information: Depending on your operating environment, you can create libraries using engines that allow you to read different file formats, including file formats from other vendors .

Using the New Library Window to Assign a New Library

  1. In the Explorer window, double-click Libraries .

  2. From the Explorer menu, select

    File New

  3. In the New Library window, type Mylib for the name, and leave the Default engine selected.

  4. Select Enable at startup so that the library is created each time you start SAS.

  5. Click Browse and select a directory to use for this library. In the Select dialog you must open the directory you want to use so that the full path into that directory is assigned. Click OK.

  6. Click OK to assign the library. Mylib appears in the Active Libraries list.

Properties Window

Purpose

View and change the properties of a data set.

To open

Type VAR in the command line, followed by the name of the data set that you want to open, in the form of libref.SAS-data-set , or right-click on a data set from the SAS Explorer window and select Properties .

Details

When you open the Properties window, you can select tabs that give you additional information about the data set.

click to expand
Display 18.24: Properties Window Displaying the Details for Sashelp.Prdsale. Select Other Tabs for More Information.

Keys Window

Purpose

Change or create new keyboard commands.

To open

Type KEYS in a command line, or select

Tools Options Keys

Details

The Keys window displays function key definitions for the current window. Default function key settings are provided with the SAS System, but you can easily add, edit, or delete them.

To add new function key definitions:

  1. After opening the Keys window, place your cursor next to the key you want to assign to a command. Make sure your cursor is under the Definition column.

  2. Type the name of the command you want to assign.

  3. Click

    File Save

    to save your changes.

To change existing key functions:

  1. Type over the command that is already assigned to a particular key with the name of a new function.

  2. Click

    File Save

    to save your changes.

To delete key functions:

  1. Type over the command that is already assigned to a particular key.

  2. Save the Keys window.

Valid Commands in the Keys Window

In the Keys window you can use these commands:

  • SAS windows commands

  • the Color, Search, Scrolling, Text Store, Window Management, and Window Size and Position commands.

In addition, you can use the following commands:

Table 18.3: Other Commands That You Can Use in the Keys Window

Command

Result

CANCEL

Cancels any changes made to the current key settings and closes the Keys window.

COPY <name>

Copies another stored set of key definitions into the window. If <name> is omitted, any changes that are made are cancelled and the definitions from your user profile catalog are copied .

 

Note: If you change a key definition in the current Keys window and then save the Keys window, you must close and reopen the Keys window before issuing the COPY command.

END

Saves the definitions and closes the Keys window.

PURGE

Removes key definitions that are not shared among devices.

SAVE <name>

Stores the current function key settings and lets you continue editing the keys definitions. If <name> is omitted, the keys are, by default, stored in the catalog SASUSER.PROFILE.

See SAS Help and Documentation for more information about commands.




SAS 9.1 Language Reference. Concepts
SAS 9.1 Language Reference Concepts
ISBN: 1590471989
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 255

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