Here is the complete guide to SAS programming to start a career on SAS and become a BASE SAS Programmer.
What is SAS?
SAS is a software program that is used in predictive analysis, management of data and business intelligence and is also the certified statistical tool for FDA, IIRC.
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Download & Install SAS Studio
To start learning any programming language, you need to practice, and this is where IDE comes into the picture. SAS has its IDE called the SAS University Edition that you can download for free. You can either download it in your PC or use cloud-based services like SAS on Demand.
Learn SAS Interfaces
Now, that you have installed SAS, its time to understand the different windows or Interfaces that SAS provides, fortunately, SAS interface is pretty easy to follow.
Below are some of the interfaces you should know.
- Coding Area
- LOG Window
- Results Window
- Output Window
Learn SAS Libraries
SAS Libraries is one of the most important concepts in Base SAS Programming. SAS stores all its files and datasets in SAS Library. In simple words, the SAS library is a collection of files and folders.
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Learn to Create a Data Set
While learning SAS, you will come across the word ‘SAS dataset’ very often. All data in SAS is stored in the form of a table and this table-like structure of data is known as SAS dataset. Learn to create a SAS dataset and use the datasets options that are available in SAS.
Learn SAS Functions
Now that you are already acquainted with SAS data sets, it is time to learn how to manipulate the data as per your needs. Manipulation data is one of the primary tasks for any SAS programmers, and this can be done with SAS functions.
The character, numeric and data functions are the three main verticals that you need to learn.
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Learn SAS Variables
Like every other programming languages, SAS also has its variables, but in SAS, variables are limited to numeric or character.
Different attributes define the SAS variables. These are as follows.
- Name
- Label
- Length
- Type
- Format
- Informat
Learn importing and exporting external files
Data usually comes from an external source. It is essential to learn how to read data from an external file like an excel file.
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Learn Data Manipulations Techniques
SAS programmers often need to modify the data to perform analysis. For example, Sorting and concatenation data.
Learn Data Analysis
Data Analysis is the outcome where you need to analyze the data and derive the Business logic around it. Below are some examples of the data analysis steps that are commonly used in SAS.
- Proc Means
- The Proc Freq
- Proc Tabulate
- and Proc Univariate
Learn Proc SQL, SAS Macro and Advanced SAS Techniques
If you are already familiar with the SQL language, then Learning Proc SQL is a piece of cake.
SAS macro is an advanced SAS programming concept that enables you to carry out dynamic value substitution and automate repetitive tasks.
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