Glossary: Glossary

Glossary

answer field: in CBT entries, the space in which users respond to either fill-in-the-blank or multiple-choice questions.
application workspace (AWS): a window that contains other windows (child windows) or from which other windows can be invoked, but which is not contained within any parent window that is part of the same software application. See also child window.
argument: in syntax descriptions, any word that follows the keyword in a SAS statement. See also parameter.
attributes: the characteristics that describe and control the appearance and function of windows and window elements. See also field attributes, general attributes.
branching: the process of calling another program or window. CBT entries support two types of branching: conditional and unconditional. See also conditional branching, unconditional branching.
button: a component of a graphical user interface. The button is programmed to execute a command, to open a window, or to perform some other function when a user selects it.
catalog entry: See SAS catalog entry.
checkpoint: a SAS catalog entry that identifies the first or last entry from the last SAS/AF application that was executed with the AF command. See also SAS catalog entry.
child entry: in CBT entries, a secondary, or sublevel, CBT entry that is displayed when a user completes the current CBT entry. See also parent entry.
choice group: in PROGRAM entries, fields that have the same Choice group attribute. These fields, called stations, display values from which users can make a single selection.
class: in object-oriented programming, the template or model for an object. A class includes data that describes the object's characteristics (instance variables) and the operations (methods) that the object can perform.
comment indicator: in CBT entries, an asterisk that marks the beginning of commented text. The asterisk can be placed either on the frame indicator line or on the feedback indicator line.
conditional branching: in CBT entries, branching in which a response from a user determines which program or window is called. See also branching, unconditional branching.
critical success factor (CSF): a graphical object that shows the relative position of a specific numeric value within a range of values. Many attributes of the object, such as its general shape, the type of arrow indicator, and how or whether the range is segmented, can be customized.
delimiter line: in SAS/AF PROGRAM entries, a line that contains logical NOT signs in columns 1-3. This line separates the scrollable area from the fixed, nonscrollable area in the PROGRAM entry's DISPLAY window. The nonscrollable area appears above the delimiter line. SAS/AF software recognizes the caret (^) and the negation character (¬) as NOT signs.
display: the area of a computer monitor in which the graphical user interface of a software application is visible to a user of that application.
entry type: a characteristic of a SAS catalog entry that identifies the catalog entry's structure and attributes to SAS. When you create an entry, SAS automatically assigns the entry type as part of the name.
execution stack: a last-in, first-out stack that lists the current and inactive entries that were called during the execution of a SAS/AF, FSEDIT, or FSVIEW application.
extended table: a window (in a PROGRAM entry) or a window element (in a FRAME entry) that displays values in a tabular format by repeating a set of fields (or other objects, in a FRAME entry). The number of rows that are displayed is determined by the SAS Component Language program or by an attribute of the extended table object in the FRAME entry. Extended tables are either static or dynamic. For static extended tables, the number of rows is fixed. For dynamic extended tables, the number of rows can vary.
feedback indicator line: in CBT entries, a line that the software displays on which the user enters the answer to a question. This line is designated with a pound sign (#) in column 1 that indicates feedback.
field: a window area in which users can view, enter, or modify a value.
field attributes: a set of characteristics that describe and control how the contents of a field are treated when values are entered or displayed in the field.
field validation: the process of checking user-entered values either against attributes that have been specified for a field or against conditions that have been specified in a SAS Component Language program.
frame: a nonscrollable area in a window. Programmers create frames in windows by using boundary markers. If there are no boundary markers, users execute scroll commands to see all of the contents of a window when those contents are larger than the window itself.
frame indicator line: in CBT entries, a text line that separates frames. This line is indicated either by a question mark in column 1 or by a row of dashes across the width of the DISPLAY window.
general attributes: the set of characteristics that are assigned to a SAS catalog entry (such as a PROGRAM entry or a FRAME entry) that displays a window.
global command: a command that is valid in all windows for a particular SAS software product.
KEYS entry: a type of catalog entry that contains function key settings for interactive windowing procedures.
libref (library reference): a name that is temporarily associated with a SAS data library. The complete name of a SAS file consists of two words, separated by a period. The libref, which is the first word, indicates the library. The second word is the name of the specific SAS file. For example, in VLIB.NEWBDAY, the libref VLIB tells SAS which library contains the file NEWBDAY. You assign a libref with a LIBNAME statement or with an operating system command.
line continuation indicator: in CBT entries, a forward slash that is positioned as the last nonblank character on the frame indicator line or on the feedback indicator line. The line continuation indicator appends the following line to the line on which the indicator appears.
linked action field: in PROGRAM entries, a field with the Type attribute ACTION, which is associated with a station of a choice group. Linked action fields enable users to make a choice by selecting either the field itself or the associated station. See also check box, choice group.
linking: in MENU entries, the process of associating a primary menu with a series of secondary MENU entries so that users can access submenu choices directly from the primary menu.
logical row: a row of fields or objects that is repeated in an extended table. See also extended table.
lookup data set: a data set that contains information that is used for additional validation of input values in fields that can use a lookup data set.
member: a SAS file in a SAS library.
member name: a name that is assigned to a SAS file in a SAS library. See also member type.
member type: a SAS name that identifies the type of information that is stored in a SAS file. Member types include ACCESS, DATA, CATALOG, ITEMSTOR, MDDB, PROGRAM, and VIEW.
member-level access: a type of access to a SAS data library that permits only one user to use a member (such as a SAS data set) at a time. See also record-level access.
menu: a window object that presents choices to users. In SAS software, menus include menu bars, pull-down menus, block menus, and selection lists.
menu bar: the primary list of items at the top of a window, which represent the actions or classes of actions that can be executed. Selecting an item executes an action, opens a pull-down menu, or opens a dialog box that requests additional information. See also pop-up menu, pull-down menu.
pad character: a special character that is displayed for each character of an empty input field. By default, the pad character is an underscore (_).
parameter: (1) in SAS/AF and SAS/FSP applications, a window characteristic that can be controlled by the user. (2) in SAS Component Language (SCL), a value that is passed from one entry in an application to another. For example, in SAS/AF applications, parameters are passed between entries by using the CALL DISPLAY and ENTRY statements. (3) a unit of command syntax other than the keyword. For example, NAME=, TYPE=, and COLOR= are typical command parameters that can be either optional or required.
parent entry: the CBT entry that called the current CBT entry.
pause indicator: in CBT entries, a line that indicates that a frame should pause. Additional information is displayed when a user presses the ENTER key. This line is designated by three at signs (@) in columns 1-3.
PMENU facility: a menuing system in SAS that is used instead of the command line as a way to execute commands. The PMENU facility consists of a menu bar, pull-down menus, and dialog boxes.
pop-up menu: a menu that appears when it is requested. These menus are context-specific, depending on which window is active and on the cursor location. See also pull-down menu.
protected field: a field to which users cannot tab and in which they cannot alter values.
pull-down menu: the list of menu items or choices that appears when you choose an item from a menu bar or from another menu. See also PMENU facility.
record-level access: a type of access to a SAS data set or other file that permits more than one user to access the SAS data set or file at a time. Only one user can use a single observation or record of the file at a time, but other users can access other observations or records in the same file. See also member-level access.
SAS catalog: a SAS file that stores many different kinds of information in smaller units called catalog entries. A single SAS catalog can contain several different types of catalog entries. See also SAS catalog entry.
SAS catalog entry: a separate storage unit within a SAS catalog. Each entry has an entry type that identifies its purpose to SAS. Some catalog entries contain system information such as key definitions. Other catalog entries contain application information such as window definitions, Help windows, formats, informats, macros, or graphics output. See also entry type.
SAS Component Language (SCL): See SCL (SAS Component Language).
SCL (SAS Component Language): a programming language that is provided with SAS/AF and SAS/FSP software. You can use SCL for developing interactive applications that manipulate SAS data sets and external files; for displaying tables, menus, and selection lists; for generating SAS source code and submitting it to SAS for execution; and for generating code for execution by the host command processor.
selection list: a list of items in a window, from which users can make one or more selections. Sources for selection lists are LIST entries, special SCL functions, and extended tables.
station: a field in a choice group. Only one station can be active at a particular time. See also choice group.
stream: a series of information about the entries and windows that are created when a user invokes a SAS/AF, FSEDIT, or FSVIEW application. Within the stream, SAS creates stacks to keep track of which entries have been called and which windows are currently open. Stacks use a last-in, first-out hierarchy.
tracking data set: a special data set that is created to save information about user responses to questions in CBT entries.
unconditional branching: in CBT entries, unconditionally changing the flow of control to a statement that does not immediately follow the current statement. See also branching, conditional branching.

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