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SAS(R) 9.2 Companion for OpenVMS on HP Integrity Servers

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Working in the SAS Windowing Environment

The SAS ToolBox under OpenVMS


Introduction to the SAS ToolBox

The SAS ToolBox has two parts as illustrated in the display:

  • A command window that enables you to quickly enter any command in the active SAS window. For information about commands that are available under OpenVMS, see Commands under OpenVMS and the SAS commands section in the Base SAS section in the online SAS Help and Documentation.

  • A toolbar that contains several tool icons. When you select a tool icon, SAS immediately executes the command that is associated with that icon. The toolbar and the tool icons are completely customizable. For more information, see Using the Tool Editor.

The SAS ToolBox

[SAS ToolBox]

The name of the active window is displayed in the title bar of the SAS ToolBox. For example, if the Log window were active, the title bar would say SAS ToolBox: Log instead of SAS ToolBox: Program Editor.

Under OpenVMS, a default SAS ToolBox automatically appears at the bottom of the SAS windows. To control its configuration, you use the Preferences dialog box. (See Modifying the SAS ToolBox Settings.)


Customizing the Default SAS ToolBox

By default, SAS loads a standard toolbox definition when you are running the SAS windowing environment. This toolbox contains some commands that are common to the windowing environment, such as New, Save, and Print. You can customize this toolbox using the TOOLEDIT command. Save the customized toolbox in SASUSER.PROFILE.DMS.TOOLBOX. The next time that you invoke SAS, this customized toolbox will display.

If you invoke an application that does not have an associated PMENU entry, the SASUSER.PROFILE.DMS.TOOLBOX is displayed. Any tools that are not valid for a window will be dimmed. You can customize the toolbox for the application by using one of the following methods:

  • You can modify the displayed toolbox and save the changes in SASUSER.PROFILE.DEFAULT.TOOLBOX. SAS will load this customized toolbox for all windows that do not have an associated PMENU entry. Because this is a customized toolbox, SAS will not dim any tools that are not valid for a window.

  • You can create application-specific toolboxes (such as with SAS/AF applications) that are automatically loaded when the application is loaded. Save the customized toolbox in SASUSER.PROFILE.APP.TOOLBOX, where APP is the same entry name as the PMENU entry for the window or application.

Only one toolbox is displayed at a time, and the tools in the toolbox change as you move between applications. For more information about customizing your toolboxes, see Techniques for Customizing Toolboxes and Toolsets.


Default Configuration for the Command Window and Toolbar

By default, the toolbar and the command window are joined and are automatically displayed when SAS initializes unless the following occurs:

  • You execute your SAS job in a non-windowing environment mode.

  • The SAS.defaultToolBox resource or SAS.defaultCommandWindow resource is set to False. The default is True. For more information about the resources that control the toolbox, see X Resources That Control Toolbox Behavior.

  • You deselect Display tools window , Display command window , or Combine windows from the ToolBox tab in the Preferences dialog box.

The following display shows the command window and the toolbar in their default configuration.

Default Configuration for Command Window and Toolbar

[SAS ToolBox]


Opening and Closing the Command Window and Toolbar

The following table lists the steps you can use to open and close the command window and toolbar.

Steps for Opening and Closing the Command Window and Toolbar
Window How to Open How to Close
Command Window and Toolbar To open both windows, use one of the following steps:
  • Issue the COMMAND WINDOW command.

  • Select Tools [arrow] Options [arrow] Toolbox.

  • Issue the TOOLLOAD command. For more information, see TOOLLOAD Command: OpenVMS.

To close both windows, use one of the following steps:
  • Double-click the window menu button for the combined command window and toolbar.

  • Select Close from the window menu.

  • Enter the TOOLCLOSE command as described in TOOLCLOSE Command: OpenVMS.

  • Select Tools [arrow] Options [arrow] ToolBox so that ToolBox is deselected.

Command Window To open only the command window, complete the following steps:
  1. Deselect Combine windows on the ToolBox tab of the Preferences dialog box.

  2. Complete one of the following steps:

    • Select Display command window on the ToolBox tab of the Preferences dialog box.

    • Issue the COMMAND WINDOW command.

To close only the command window, complete the following steps:
  1. Deselect Display command window on the ToolBox tab of the Preferences dialog box.

  2. Complete one of the following steps:

    • Select Close from the window menu.

    • Double-click the window menu button.

Toolbar To open only the toolbar, complete the following steps:
  1. Deselect Combine windows on the ToolBox tab of the Preferences dialog box.

  2. Complete one of the following steps:

    • Select Display tools window on the ToolBox tab of the Preferences dialog box.

    • Select Tools [arrow] Options [arrow] ToolBox.

    • Issue the TOOLLOAD command as described in TOOLLOAD Command: OpenVMS.

To close only the toolbar, complete the following steps:
  1. Deselect Combine windows on the ToolBox tab of the Preferences dialog box.

  2. Complete one of the following steps:

    • Deselect Display tools window on the ToolBox tab of the Preferences dialog box.

    • Issue the TOOLCLOSE command as described in TOOLCLOSE Command: OpenVMS.

    • Select Tools [arrow] Options [arrow] ToolBox so that ToolBox is deselected.


How to Execute Commands

You can execute commands from either the command window or the toolbar. The following table provides more details about how to execute commands.

Executing Commands in the Command Window and the Toolbar
Window Executing a Command
Command Window To issue a command, do the following:
  1. Click in the command window.

  2. Type in the command.

  3. Press ENTER or click the check mark.

The command is submitted in the active SAS window.

You can use the up and down arrows to scroll through previously entered commands, or you can select a previous command from the drop-down list. Use the middle mouse button to select and execute a command from the list. If you use the left mouse button, the command is selected, but you must then press ENTER or click on the check mark to submit the command.

Toolbar Click a tool icon in the toolbar to execute the command or commands that are associated with that icon.

If you place the cursor over an icon for the amount of time specified by the SAS.toolBoxTipDelay resource, a pop-up window displays text that describes the command for that icon.

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