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Introducing SAS and SAS/ASSIST Software

The SAS/ASSIST WorkPlace Environment

The user interface to SAS/ASSIST software is called the SAS/ASSIST WorkPlace. The SAS/ASSIST WorkPlace integrates all SAS/ASSIST tasks together into one easy-to-use interface. The main menu in the SAS/ASSIST WorkPlace is called the WorkPlace menu. The WorkPlace menu consists of buttons, which can be used to invoke task windows, and a menu bar, which also can be used to invoke task windows and to perform other SAS/ASSIST functions. The menu bar is also available on all SAS/ASSIST task windows.

Descriptions of the buttons on the SAS/ASSIST WorkPlace menu and items on the menu bar follow the picture of the WorkPlace menu shown in the following display.

WorkPlace Menu

[WorkPlace Menu]


Buttons on the WorkPlace Menu

Note that most of the tasks that are available by selecting the buttons on the WorkPlace menu are also available under the Tasks menu. The Tasks menu is available on all SAS/ASSIST task windows as well as the WorkPlace menu. In this document, tasks will be accessed by using the Tasks menu.


Data Management

Data Management enables you to enter new data; look at and change existing data; import data from and export data to an external file; access data from external databases; design data formats and informats; and subset, copy, combine, and sort data. In addition, you can query both SAS tables and data from different databases.


Report Writing

Report Writing enables you to create a variety of reports including simple lists of data; tables that summarize data; tables of frequencies of data; and line printer bar charts, pie charts, and plots. In addition, you can create or modify a report interactively or use the Report Engine window to build different types of reports that are based on SAS tables or views of tables in other formats.


Graphics

Graphics enables you to produce high- and low-resolution graphics including vertical, horizontal, stacked, and grouped bar charts; pie charts; line plots of Y by X values; and maps. To produce high-resolution graphics and maps, you must have SAS/GRAPH software licensed, and you must have high-resolution, graphics-capable hardware.


Data Analysis

Data Analysis offers several analysis tools. With data analysis tools, you can

Many of the data analysis functions require that you have SAS/STAT software, SAS/ETS software, SAS/QC software, SAS/LAB software, or SAS/INSIGHT software licensed.


Planning Tools

Planning Tools helps you to analyze and compare loans, design and analyze experiments, manage projects, and forecast time series. Some of the planning tools require that you have SAS/ETS software, SAS/QC software, or SAS/OR software licensed.


Enterprise Information System

The Enterprise Information System (EIS) item on the SAS/ASSIST WorkPlace menu is a gateway to SAS/EIS software, a menu-driven system that lets you develop and run enterprise information systems. SAS/EIS software helps you create and access your own applications, effectively extending the tasks that are already built into SAS/EIS software. You can build menu-driven applications that include graphs, reports, executable programs, host commands, and desktop applications. Additionally, you can use several desktop applications that are supplied by SAS in your enterprise information systems. You must have SAS/EIS software licensed to use this feature.


Remote Connect

Remote Connect enables you to establish a SAS session on a remote computer, communicate between that remote session and a local SAS session, run saved programs on the remote computer, and transfer data between the local and remote SAS sessions. You must have SAS/CONNECT software licensed to use the remote connect functionality.


Results

Results enables you to manage your saved SAS/ASSIST tasks, output, and program code by using the Result Manager window. The Result Manager lets you recall, delete, or rename a program or output; edit or execute a program; redisplay a graph; and print all entry types except types of MANAGER or PROFILE.


Setup

Setup enables you to control certain aspects of your SAS session, including associating reference names with data libraries or files, managing device drivers and printing forms, sorting data, and reviewing your current function key settings. This item also enables you to set up Master, Group, and User profile options to customize a user's SAS/ASSIST environment.


Index

Index provides you with an alphabetic list of tasks that can be performed with SAS/ASSIST software. To access one of the tasks, select it from the Index list. The software takes you directly to the task. When you exit the task, the software returns you to the Index. This item is useful when you cannot find a task you want to perform.


Exit

Exit lets you exit SAS/ASSIST software.


WorkPlace Menu Bar Items


File

File contains such file-management functions as opening, closing, saving, importing, and exporting files.


Edit

Edit contains items that allow you to add titles and footnotes to reports, set page dimensions, and specify page headers.


View

View contains items that allow you to view tables, output, and source code, and to open other SAS System windows.


Tools

Tools contains SAS/ASSIST tools, such as the Setup tools and the Result Manger; SAS tools, such as the Table Editor and Graphics Editor; and SAS system options.


Run

Run contains commands to run a task locally or remotely and to establish or terminate a connection to a remote host.


Tasks

Tasks contains all the items on the WorkPlace menu buttons except Index and Exit. This menu is convenient because you can access one task directly from another without having to return to the main menu first.


Help

Help contains various help items, including SAS System help and SAS/ASSIST window-specific help.

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