How to Create a Viewer

The file that contains the viewer template contains code that is surrounded by tags < SASINSERT> open tag and end with the </SASINSERT> closing tag.

The viewer contains sections that format each package entry by using the appropriate technique.

For a single, comprehensive viewer that contains all of the preceding examples, see Sample HTML Viewer.

Delivery of a single variable from all observations in a SAS data set is suitable for an unordered list.

Here is the first section from the sample template that formats a single variable from a SAS data set into a list.

<!--Section 1: Formatting a Data Set
   Variable in an HTML List-->
<SASINSERT>
<h2>Congratulations!</h2>
$(entry=1 attribute=description)
<ul>
<SASTABLE ENTRY=1>
<li>$(VARIABLE=fname)</li>
</SASTABLE>
</ul>
</SASINSERT>

The ENTRY=1 attribute identifies the SAS data set as the first entry in the package. The description attribute extracts the description of the package.

The <UL> HTML tag specifies an unordered list after which the <SASTABLE> tag with the ENTRY=1 option are necessary to identify the SAS data set as the first entry in the package. The <LI> HTML tag is used with variable substitution syntax to identify that the variable fname is to be extracted from the SAS data file and formatted as a list entry in the rendered view. Implicit in the <SASTABLE> construct is looping. Each observation in the data set is read and formatted until the end of file is reached.

The following SAS HTML tags are used in this example:

This section of the template is rendered for viewing in e-mail as follows:

Congratulations!

AlphaliteAirways Sales Force Briefing
   John
   Gary
   Arthur
   Jean
   Tony
   Dakota

Delivery of multiple variables or all variables from the observations in a SAS data set is suitable for a tabular presentation.

Here is an example of a template that extracts three of four variables from a SAS data set into a table.

<!--Section 2: Formatting a SAS Data
   Set into a Table-->
<SASINSERT>
<h2>Record Sales from these Salespeople</h2>
$(entry=1 attribute=description)
<table border cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5
   rules=groups>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>First Name</th>
<th>Last Name</th>
<th>Territory</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<SASTABLE ENTRY=1>
<tr>
<td> $(Variable=fname)</td>
<td> $(Variable=lname)</td>
<td> $(Variable=territory)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</SASTABLE>
</table>
</SASINSERT>

The ENTRY=1 attribute identifies the SAS data set as the first entry in the package. The description attribute extracts the description of the entry from the package. Standard HTML table tags set up the tabular framework that defines a row with three columns of header text and accompanying tabular data. The <TD> tag is used with the variable substitution syntax to identify the following variables for extraction and insertion into the table: fname, lname, and territory. Implicit in the <SASTABLE> construct is looping. Each observation in the data set is read and formatted until the end of file is reached.

The following SAS HTML tags are used in this example:

This section of the template is rendered for viewing in e-mail as follows:

Record Sales from These Salespeople

The viewer template might also include the entire contents of a text file, another HTML file, a reference URL, or a binary file.

Here is the third section from the sample template that inserts a text file and a reference URL into the viewer.

<!--Section 3: Inserting a Text File
   and a Reference URL-->
<SASINSERT>
<h2>Letter of Congratulations</h2>
<p>Below is a copy of the letter that was sent
to each recipient of the top sales award.</p>
$(entry=2 attribute=stream)
<p>
See <a href="$(entry=3 attribute=stream)">
for detailed sales figures.</p>
</SASINSERT>

The <H2> tag defines a descriptive heading for the text document and the reference URL. The ENTRY=2 attribute identifies the entry (a text document) to be substituted as an input stream to the HTML output. The ENTRY=3 attribute identifies the reference URL.

The following SAS HTML tags are used in this example:

This section of the template is rendered for viewing in e-mail as follows:

Letter of Congratulations

Below is a copy of the letter that was sent to each recipient of the top sales
award.

                                        December 30, 2000

                                        International Sales
                                        AlphaliteAirways Headquarters

Dear AlphaliteAirways Salesperson,

Congratulations on your much deserved recognition as
outstanding salesperson for AlphaliteAirways for 2000.

To express our gratitude for your excellent contribution,
we wish to present you with 25 stock options in
AlphaliteAirways.

Wishing you continued success in your career with
AlphaliteAirways.

                                        Sincerely,

                                        Alvin O. Taft, Jr.
                                        Director-in-Chief

See http://www.AlphaliteAirways.com/headquarters/sales 
for detailed sales figures.

Another method for locating package entries for inclusion in the viewer is name/value filtering. You can filter package entries that are assigned an optional name/value pair when they are created according to specified criteria. Entries that match are included in the rendered view. Filtering is especially powerful for searching large, nested packages.

In our example, we filter for all entries that have a name/value pair of type=report and include the matching entries in the viewer. In our fictitious package, one HTML entry matches the name/value pair and so it is filtered for inclusion in the viewer.

Here is the fourth section from the sample template that inserts an HTML file (according to matched criterion) into the viewer.

<!--Section 4: Filtering an Entry-->
<SASINSERT>
<h2>Message from the President</h2>
<SASREPEAT>
$(entry="(type=report)" attribute=stream)
</SASREPEAT>
</SASINSERT>

The ENTRY="(type=report)" attribute filters all package entries that contain a name/value pair of type=report. The <SASREPEAT> open tag and the </SASREPEAT> closing tag surround the search string in order to perform a repetitive search for the name/value pair. Without this tag, the search would end after the first match. In this example, only one HTML entry is matched. This entry is substituted as an input stream to the HTML output.

The following SAS HTML tags are used in this example:

This section of the template is rendered for viewing in e-mail as follows:

Message from the President

AlphaliteAirways delivers service. AlphaliteAirways is the
recognized industry leader according to its safety
record, volume of passengers served, and number of
routes serviced.

How are we able to live up to such high expectations
consistently? First and foremost, we do it through the
abilities of our top salespeople. We owe a huge debt to
these hard-working individuals who actively pursue
revenue for this company.