Introduction to SAS/AF Software

Overview

SAS/AF software provides a set of tools that you can use to develop applications within the SAS System. SAS/AF applications provide interactive user interfaces to all the data access, management, analysis, and presentation features of SAS software.

SAS/AF applications are stored in SAS catalog entries. You use the BUILD procedure (or the BUILD command) in SAS/AF software to create the following types of catalog entries:

FRAME entries, which provide visual, object-oriented components for developing applications in environments that support a graphical user interface
PROGRAM and MENU entries, which provide character-based features for developing applications in environments where a graphical user interface is not available
SCL entries, which store SAS Component Language (SCL) programs
CBT and HELP entries, which provide information and assistance to application users.

Other utility entry types can also be created to support your applications.

Although SAS/AF software is required for building applications, users do not need to license or install SAS/AF software in order to run the applications. The commands and procedure that launch SAS/AF applications are available in Base SAS software. Catalog entry types that provide a display run in the AF window, which supports its own set of window management commands in addition to any custom commands that your application supports.

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