Overview

Changing the source data for the Import Data task requires a specific set of steps, and changing the source data for the Query Builder task requires a different set of steps, and, in general, the remaining tasks require a third set of steps for changing the source data. This sample includes four separate examples showing the different steps that are required in order to change source data for different tasks.

When the task is not complex, it might be easier to simply add the new data source to the project and build the task from scratch instead of using the methods outlined in this sample.

These examples were created using SAS Enterprise Guide 4.1.0.521.

These examples require only basic skills creating projects and using tasks such as List Data, Import Data, and the Query Builder in SAS Enterprise Guide.

If your Project windows are different than those in the examples, you can click the View menu, and then select Project Explorer and Project Designer.

The following six data tables are used by the four examples:

CLASS_MALES.sas7bdat

CLASS_FEMALES.sas7bdat

MALES.csv

FEMALES.csv

MALES.xls

FEMALES.xls

Create a backup copy of production projects before making changes.

Example 1.

This example shows how to change the source data used by the List Data task. The same steps work for most other tasks.

This example uses CLASS_MALES.sas7bdat and CLASS_FEMALES.sas7bdat. This example starts with a project that contains a List Data task that uses the CLASS_MALES table as the source data. The goal is to keep the same project and task and simply change the source data going into the List Data task.

The following image shows CLASS_MALES as the initial source data for the List Data task.

1. Right-click on the CLASS_MALES data node in the Process Flow and select Properties.

The following image shows the Properties dialog box:


2. Click the Change button and go to where the CLASS_FEMALES data resides.

The following image shows the Insert Data dialog box where CLASS_FEMALES is selected.


3. Click Open and the Properties dialog box now shows that the File name is CLASS_FEMALES.

The following image shows the Properties dialog box with the updated information.


4. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.
5. Right-click on the List Data task node in the Process Flow and choose Run.

The following image shows that the HTML results now display CLASS_FEMALES data instead of CLASS_MALES data.

Example 2.

This example shows how to change the source data used by the Query Builder task.

This example uses CLASS_MALES.sas7bdat and CLASS_FEMALES.sas7bdat. This example starts with a project that contains a Query Builder task that uses the CLASS_MALES table as the source data. The goal is to copy the Query Builder task and change the source data going into the new Query Builder task.

The following image shows the source data, which is CLASS_MALES, and a query that filters on AGE and generates an output file named MALES_TEEN.

1. Add the CLASS_FEMALES data to the project.

The following image shows that the data source CLASS_FEMALES has been added to the project.


2. Right-click on the Query Builder task in the Process Flow and click Copy.
3. Right-click below the task and click Paste.

The following image shows the copied version of the Query Builder task.



4. Open the copied version of the Query Builder task, and click Join.

The following image shows the Tables and Joins window.



5. Right-click on the table's header and click Properties.

The following image shows the Table Properties dialog box.



6. Click Change to open the Open Data dialog box.
7. Click Project to open the Add From Project dialog box.
8. Click CLASS_FEMALES to select the data.
9. Click OK to close the dialog box.

The following image shows the Table Properties dialog box with CLASS_FEMALES as the active data.



10. Click OK to close the Table Properties dialog box.
11. Click Close to close the Tables and Joins window.
12. Click Run to run the query.

The following image shows how the copied query now uses CLASS_FEMALES as the source data.

Example 3.

This example shows how to change the source data file used by the Import Data task by copying the task. This method can be used after migrating a project and the ability to change the source data using the method in Example 4. is not available.

This example uses MALES.csv and FEMALES.csv. This example starts with a project that contains an Import Data task that uses the MALES.csv table as the source data. The goal is to copy the Import Data task and change the source data going into the new Import Data task to FEMALES.csv.

The following image shows the source data file, which is MALES.csv, the Import Data task, and the resulting SAS table, which is SASUSER.MALES.

1. Right-click the Import Data task in the Process Flow and click Copy.
2. Click File, then New, then Process Flow.
3. Right-click in the new Process Flow area and choose Paste.

The following image shows the new Process Flow window with the copied task.

Notice that the source data file was also included.


4. Right-click on the source data node in the Process Flow.
5. Click Properties, then Change.
6. Select FEMALES.csv, and click Open to open the new source data.

The following image shows the Properties dialog box.

Notice in the Properties dialog box that the Label still shows the original data source.


7. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box, which will also update the Label value.

The following image shows that the source data file has changed to FEMALES.csv as expected.


8. Run the Import Data task in the new process flow to get the new results.

The following image shows that the results of the Import Data task are based on the new source data.

If you want the two Import Data tasks in the same Process Flow, then follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the new Import Data task in the new Process Flow and click Copy.
2. Go to the original Process Flow, right-click in the Process Flow area, and then click Paste.
3. Go to the new Process Flow, right-click on the Import Data task node, and then click Delete. You also can delete the entire new Process Flow if you have no need for it.

Example 4.

This example shows how to change the source data file used by the Import Data task without copying the task.

This example uses MALES.xls and FEMALES.xls. This example starts with a project that contains an Import Data task that uses the MALES.xls table as the source data. The goal is to change the source data going into the Import Data task to FEMALES.xls without copying the task.

The following image shows the source data file, which is MALES.xls, the Import Data task, and the resulting SAS table, which is SASUSER.MALES.

1. Right-click on the source data node in the Process Flow.
2. Click Properties, then Change.
3. Select FEMALES.xls, and click Open to open the new source data.

The following image shows the Properties dialog box with the updated source data.


4. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

The following image shows that the source data file has changed to FEMALES.xls as expected.


5. Open the Import Data task in the Process Flow and click the Results tab to change the Save Location to a more appropriate table name such as FEMALES.
6. Click Run to get the updated results.

This is the end of the sample.

Additional Documentation

For a list of available documentation for SAS Enterprise Guide, see http://support.sas.com/documentation/onlinedoc/guide/

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These sample files and code examples are provided by SAS Institute Inc. "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Recipients acknowledge and agree that SAS Institute shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of their use of this material. In addition, SAS Institute will provide no support for the materials contained herein.

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These sample files and code examples are provided by SAS Institute Inc. "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Recipients acknowledge and agree that SAS Institute shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of their use of this material. In addition, SAS Institute will provide no support for the materials contained herein.

This sample includes four separate examples showing the different steps required to change source data for different tasks.

Type:

Sample

Date Modified:	2008-05-14 16:51:25
Date Created:	2008-04-15 14:59:49

Operating System and Release Information

Product Family	Product	Host	Product Release		SAS Release
			Starting	Ending	Starting	Ending
SAS System	SAS Enterprise Guide	Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition	4.1		9.1 TS1M3 SP4
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition	4.1		9.1 TS1M3 SP4
		Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition	4.1		9.1 TS1M3 SP4
		Microsoft Windows XP Professional	4.1		9.1 TS1M3 SP4