Summary of Working in the SAS Environment

Working in the SAS Environment

Lesson Summary

This page contains

a text summary of the material taught in the lesson
selected menus used in the lesson
points to remember.

I. Text Summary

To go to the page where a task, programming feature, or concept was presented, select a link.

Using the Main SAS Windows
The Explorer, Program Editor, Enhanced Editor, Log, Output, and Results windows help you explore and manage your files, enter and submit SAS programs, view messages, and view and manage your output.

Use this window ... To ...

Explorer view your SAS files
create new libraries and SAS files
perform most file management tasks such as moving, copying, and deleting files
create shortcuts to non-SAS files

Program Editor enter, edit, and submit SAS programs

Enhanced Editor enter, edit, and submit SAS programs (Windows operating environment only)

Log view messages about your SAS session and any SAS programs you submit

Output browse output from SAS programs

Results navigate and manage output from SAS programs
view, save, and print individual items of output

Features of SAS Windows
SAS windows have many features that help you get your work done. For example, you can

maximize, minimize, and restore windows
use menus, pop-up menus, and toolbars
dock and undock windows in the Windows and OS/2 environments
get more help
customize toolbars, pop-up menus, icons, and so on.

Creating SAS Libraries
SAS files are stored in libraries. By default, SAS software defines several libraries for you (including Sashelp, Sasuser, and Work). You can also define additional libraries. When you define a library, you indicate the location of your SAS files to SAS software. Once you define a library, you can manage SAS files within it. When you delete a SAS library, the pointer is deleted, and SAS software no longer has access to the directory. However, the contents of the library still exist in your operating environment.

To define a library, you assign it a library name and specify a path (such as a directory). You also specify an engine, which is a set of internal instructions SAS software uses for writing to and reading from files in a library. Depending on your operating environment, you can create libraries with various engines that allow you to read different file formats, including file formats from other vendors.

Creating and Using File Shortcuts
You can create a file shortcut to any type of file. For example, if you use certain SAS programs often, you can create file shortcuts to those programs. You can open, browse, and submit a file using a file shortcut. File shortcuts are stored in the File Shortcuts folder in the Explorer window, and they last for the duration of your SAS session.

Using SAS Solutions and Tools
Along with windows for working with your SAS files and SAS programs, SAS software provides a set of ready-to-use solutions, applications, and tools. You can access many of these tools by using the Solutions and Tools menus.

Getting Help
As you begin working in SAS software, be sure to take advantage of the different types of online help available from the Help menu. SAS System Help is comprehensive help for SAS software, organized by categories such as Getting Started with the SAS System, Sample SAS Programs and Applications, and Using Base SAS Software. Using This Window is task-oriented help for the active window. Books and Training gives you access to both SAS OnlineTutor and SAS OnlineDoc, which is a complete set of reference information for SAS software. Tutorials are listed under Help for products where they are available. Be sure to try some of the tasks in Getting Started with SAS Software. If you have Internet access, SAS on the Web provides links to information including Technical Support, Frequently Asked Questions, and Sample Programs.

II. Selected Menus

Select items from this menu ... To ...

View menu open main SAS windows.
From the Explorer window, you can use this menu to show or hide details and a tree view.

Run menu submit and recall SAS programming statements in the Program Editor window.

Solutions menu access ready-to-use solutions and applications.

Tools menu access commonly used SAS tools.
You can also customize your SAS workspace and set options.

Help menu get more help.

III. Points to Remember

To open a pop-up menu in the OS/390 or CMS operating environments, type ? in the selection field beside the item in the Explorer window. To simulate a double-click, type S in the selection field beside the item.
You can specify a function key to open pop-up menus. Select Tools Options Keys and type wpopup as a function key setting.
In the Windows and OS/2 environments, you can select Window Docked to undock the active window, or you can turn docking off completely in the Preferences dialog.
You can resize many SAS windows by dragging the edge of the window. (In the OS/390 and CMS environments, click the window border; then click the desired location.)
You can resize the left and right panes of the Explorer window by clicking and dragging the split bar between the two panes. (In the OS/390 and CMS environments, click the split bar; then click the desired location.)

Select items from this menu ...	To ...
	open main SAS windows. From the Explorer window, you can use this menu to show or hide details and a tree view.
	submit and recall SAS programming statements in the Program Editor window.
	access ready-to-use solutions and applications.
	access commonly used SAS tools. You can also customize your SAS workspace and set options.
	get more help.