SAS webinar

[1695814]

fyi

Understanding the SAS® Data Step and Program Data Vector
by Steve First
Systems Seminar Consultants, Madison, WI

Join us for a Free Webinar on June 29

*** Please download copies of the paper and presentation slides in advance from the links at http://www.virtualsug.org ***

ABSTRACT: The SAS system is made up of two major components: SAS PROCs and the SAS DATA Step. The DATA Step provides an excellent, full fledged programming language that allows programs to read and write almost any type of data value, convert and calculate new data, control looping and much, much more. In many ways, the design of the DATA step along with its powerful statements, is what makes the SAS language so popular. This paper will address how the DATA step fits with the rest of the SAS System, DATA step assumptions and defaults, internal structures such as buffers, and the Program Data Vector. It will also look at major DATA step features such as compiler and executable statements.

PRESENTER BIO: Steven First, President of Systems Seminar Consultants (SSC), has worked with SAS for over 30 years. His SAS experience includes hundreds of manufacturing, retail, government, marketing, and financial applications. Steve has developed SSC into an esteemed provider of SAS solutions. His commitment to quality has resulted in a successful, fast-growing business. Steve founded WISAS and WISUG. He is a regularly invited speaker at user group meetings. Steve has a B.S. in Computer Science from the UW, La Crosse.
*** Please download copies of the paper and presentation slides from the links at http://www.virtualsug.org ***

Note: SAS is a registered trademark of SAS Institute, Inc. in the USA and other countries. (r) indicates USA registration.
Title:

Understanding the SAS® Data Step and Program Data Vector, by Steve First, Systems Seminar Consultants, Madison, WI
Date:
Monday, June 29, 2009
Time:
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PDT
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System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/216871075

(...and there are 117 slides in the presentation)

[Vorian Atreides]

Apparently, there are still openings . . . I just managed to sign up.

[ADoubleDot]

You put PDT in bold and red and I still managed to call at 9 eastern.

[Vorian Atreides]

Pretty good webinar . . . thanks numbers!

[1695814]

Originally Posted by Vorian Atreides

Pretty good webinar . . . thanks numbers!

You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it.

Personally, I thought it was . Maybe I just have a bad case of the Mondays.

[ADoubleDot]

Picked up two or three interesting things but I was mostly disappointed with how elementary it was, all-in-all it was worth the hour though. Thanks 169!

[1695814]

Originally Posted by ADoubleDot

Picked up two or three interesting things but I was mostly disappointed with how elementary it was, all-in-all it was worth the hour though. Thanks 169!

I agree. I felt that anyone who's experienced the SAS DATA Step already knows most of that stuff, and if they haven't had experience with the SAS DATA Step then all that stuff won't mean anything to them anyway.

Now I'm off to see if I can figure out what MISSOVER does and whether or not I want/need to incorporate that into my programs.

[ADoubleDot]

Didn't know you could compile values w/o a retain statement, but I checked it and its far less efficient. 1.5*normal runtime with 10,000-observation table.

[1695814]

Slide 73 "Stopping Late"

I had never considered that method for calculating percentages...or that you might want to set a dataset twice.

I usually use a proc means/summary for such a calculation.

[1695814]

Originally Posted by ADoubleDot

Didn't know you could compile values w/o a retain statement, but I checked it and its far less efficient. 1.5*normal runtime with 10,000-observation table.

I'm trying to figure out what "compile values w/o a retain statement" means. Would you have an example (both w/ and w/o)?