Routing Procedure Output to a Web Browser

Introduction to Routing Procedure Output to a Web Browser

The Output Delivery System (ODS) can create your procedure output in HTML to be viewed in any web browser. The ODS system also has the ability to create RTF procedure output. If Microsoft Internet Explorer is installed, you can view HTML and RTF procedure output within the SAS main window by using the Results Viewer. Viewing RTF procedure output also requires an RTF viewer, such as Microsoft Word.

If you are not using IE, HTML procedure output is displayed in the preferred browser that is specified in the Preferences dialog box Web sheet. Having IE installed enables you to view the HTML output from within the main SAS window.

For more information about using the Output Delivery System, see SAS Output Delivery System: User’s Guide.

Configuring Preferences for HTML Output

To create and view HTML output, you configure the Results and Web tabs of the Preferences dialog box.

To open the Preferences dialog box, select Tools

Options

Preferences.

To configure the Results page of the Preferences dialog box:

Click the Results tab.
Select the Create HTML check box.
Select where to save your HTML file. To save HTML files only while the current SAS session is active, select the Use WORK folder check box. Saving HTML files to a temporary folder is useful when you are testing a procedure and creating a multitude of HTML files. For example, when you exit SAS, all temporary files are deleted.

To save HTML files to a folder other than the Work folder, ensure that the Use WORK folder check box is not selected. Then enter a path in the Folder text box or click Browse to search for a folder.
Click in the Style box and highlight a style. The style defines colors and fonts to display your output. You define styles by using the TEMPLATE Procedure: Overview in SAS Output Delivery System: Procedures Guide in SAS Output Delivery System: User’s Guide.
Select View results as they are generated to view the results immediately.
Under View results using, select Internal browser to view HTML output in the Results Viewer or select Preferred browser to view the HTML output in the web browser specified on the Web tab. If Microsoft Internet Explorer is not installed, you must select Preferred web browser.

To configure the Web page of the Preferences dialog box:

Click the Web tab.
Choose which browser you want to use:
- Select the Use default browser radio button to view the HTML output in the default browser that is configured in the Windows Registry. For information about how to view the Windows Registry, see your Windows documentation.
- Select the Other browser radio button to view HTML from a web browser other than the default browser. Then enter the browser's path and filename, or click Browse to find the browser filename.

Using the Results Viewer Window

Configuring the Internal Browser

When you select Internal browser from the Results tab of the Preferences dialog box, SAS uses the Results Viewer window to display HTML output that is created by the Output Delivery System. You can open any HTML output that is listed in the Results window or any HTML file that is located on your system.

Using the Toolbar

The following toolbar buttons are available in the Results Viewer for HTML output:

Go Back

Select the left arrow button to cycle back through files that you opened in the Results Viewer.

Go Forward

Select the right arrow button to move forward through files that you opened in the Results Viewer.

Stop download

Select the traffic light button to stop loading a file.

Refresh content

Select the arrow circle button to reload the current file.

Cycle font

Select the double-A button to change the font size. Five font sizes are available.

Viewing HTML Files

You can view HTML procedure output by opening the file from the Results window. If you want to see your procedure output as it is generated, set an option in the Results tab of the Preferences dialog box:

Select ToolsOptionsPreferences.
Select the Results tab.
Select View results as they are generated.
Click OK.

To open additional Results Viewer windows from the Results window:

Select the Results window.
Click on the output data set name with the right mouse button.
Select Open in New Window.

To open an HTML file that is on your system:

Make the Results Viewer window the active window.
Select the Open toolbar button.
Specify the HTML file in the Open dialog box.
Click OK.

To edit your HTML output:

From the Results window, click with the right mouse button on the output data set name.
Select Edit Source.
Make changes to the HTML file.
Select the Save toolbar button.
Select the Refresh content toolbar button to view the updated HTML file in the Results Viewer.