Technical Q & A for Learning Edition 2.0

1. When installing Microsoft Run-Time Components on Win2K Pro, I receive the following error message. What should I do?

   Error: System Update Error. The following system components could not be updated on your system: MS Run-Time Components.

   If you receive this error message, follow these steps:

   1. Are there any anti-virus programs running in the background? If there are, disable them and try the installation again.
   2. Are there any other applications open? If so, close those applications and try the installation again.
   3. What service pack is on this machine? To find out, type winver at a DOS command prompt or in the Start -> Run dialog. You might want to go to Microsoft's Web site to see what the latest service pack upgrade recommendations are. Installing Service Pack 2 (SP2) has helped solve this problem for some users.
   4. Is this the original SAS media? If not, get the original SAS media and try again.
   5. Get the original SAS Installation Setup disk. Go to the SRW\bundles\vcredist directory, and run setup.exe.
   6. Click on the following Microsoft Web link and download the latest run-time components: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=28337
   7. Make sure you have rebooted your machine.

   If you are still having problems: Because these are Microsoft's run-time components and something is preventing them from installing, you need to go to the Microsoft Web site with the exact message that you are receiving and search for the run-time components.

   
   

   
   

2. I am trying to load SAS Learning Edition 2.0 on my Windows XP machine, and I am getting the following error message. What do I need to do?

   C:\\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The System file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.

   This error message appears because the autoexec.nt file is missing from the c:\winnt\system32 folder or has been tampered with. The reasons why the file is missing or has been tampered with are unknown.

   To resolve this issue:

   1. Open Windows Explorer.
   2. Navigate to c:\winnt\repair.
   3. Right-click on autoexec.nt and select Copy.
   4. Navigate to the c:\winnt\system32 folder and paste autoexec.nt to that location.
   5. Restart the SAS Learning Edition installation.

   
   

   
   

3. I currently have SAS Enterprise Guide 3.0 and SAS 8.2/9.x installed on my local machine. What happens if I install SAS Learning Edition 2.0 on the same machine?

   SAS Enterprise Guide 3.0 automatically connects to the most recently installed version of SAS. When you install SAS Learning Edition, you are installing SAS Enterprise Guide 2.1 and SAS 8.2 with a 1000-observation limit. This version of SAS becomes the active SAS version for SAS Enterprise Guide 3.0. To change the version of SAS that SAS Enterprise Guide 3.0 uses, you must do the following:

   1. Open a DOS command prompt.
   2. Go to the directory that has the sas.exe file for the SAS version that you want to use.
   3. Type sas -regserver.

   After you complete these steps, you will be able to use SAS Enterprise Guide 3.0 again with no restrictions applied.

   
   

   
   

4. Where is the sample data and sample code located for SAS Learning Edition?

   If you accepted the defaults when you installed SAS Learning Edition, the sample data is located in C:\Program Files\SAS\EG Learning Edition 2.0\Sample\Data and the sample code is located in C:\Program Files\SAS\EG Learning Edition 2.0\Sample\Code.

   
   

   
   

5. How do I import and export data with SAS Learning Edition?

   To import data, use the Import Data task in SAS Enterprise Guide. You can open the task by selecting Tools -> Import Data from the main menu. You can use this tool to import text files and Microsoft Excel files.

   To export data, select File -> Save As/Export.

   
   

   
   

6. Can I specify data library locations in SAS Learning Edition?

   Yes. To assign a library you must issue a LIBNAME statement in the Code Editor window.

   
   

   
   

7. Can I write my own macros with SAS Learning Edition?

   Yes. This product has full macro programming capabilities. You can write your own SAS macros by using the Code Editor window. To access the Code Editor window, select Insert -> Code. Note, however, that the autocall library of pre-written macros is not included with SAS Learning Edition.

   
   

   
   

8. Can I use SAS Learning Edition to learn SAS programming?

   Yes. Although the Getting Started tutorial and book focus on the point-and-click features of SAS Enterprise Guide, you can use SAS Enterprise Guide to write, edit, and submit SAS programs. You can either import existing SAS code (sample code is provided with the product) and modify it, or write your own SAS programs in the easy-to-use, color-coded, syntax-checking Code Editor window.

   To access the Code Editor window, select Insert -> Code from the Insert menu and choose either the New or Existing tab, depending on whether you want to write your own code or modify existing code. In addition, you can read databases and perform data manipulation. Please keep in mind, however, that this product is for self-training, non-production use only. In addition, SAS Self-Paced e-Learning has numerous courses and lessons that you can take using SAS Learning Edition, including an entire SAS programming course. For more information, visit support.sas.com/selfpaced.

   
   

   
   

9. What if I want to use the SAS windowing environment (SAS Explorer, Enhanced Editor, Log, and Output windows) instead of SAS Enterprise Guide?

   If you are a SAS user who prefers to use the SAS windowing environment, you can add a shortcut to your desktop that will start SAS rather than SAS Enterprise Guide. Just follow these instructions:

   1. On your desktop, right-click My Computer and select Explore from the pop-up menu.
   2. Navigate to the directory where you installed SAS Learning Edition.
   3. Right-click sas.exe and select Copy.
   4. On your desktop, right-click and select Paste shortcut.

   A SAS V8 icon now appears on your desktop.

   
   

   
   

10. I have just attempted to load SAS Learning Edition 2.0 on a PC that has the appropriate system requirements according to the check on the SAS Learning Edition CD. After apparently successfully completing the installation process, I double-clicked the SAS Learning Edition shortcut icon on the desktop. I received the following error message: :

    Delay load of library SDSMDMgr.dll failed with return code 0x00000485.

    One of the library files needed to run this application cannot be found.

    After clicking OK in the error message box, I received the following message

    Error in initializing the application.

    Creation of the SAS Directory Service Broker failed with an rc=8007000e. Contact SAS Technical Support for assistance.

    The SDSMDMgr.dll error that you are getting indicates that the Systems Requirement Wizard in SAS Enterprise Guide 2.1 has failed to install or register the SDSMDMgr.dll file. This file can be found in the "c:\program files\sas institute\sas\shared files\sas directory services" folder if you installed SAS Learning Edition in the default location.

    If the file is there or in the SAS directory services folder, then try registering the dll by opening a DOS command window, drilling to that location, and at the DOS prompt type regsvr32 SDSMDMgr.dll.

    If this fails, then un-install SAS Enterprise Guide 2.1 and follow these steps based on SAS Note SN-008066:

    1. Install jet40sp3_comp.exe from D:\srw\redist\jet\en.
    2. Install ads98.exe from D:\srw\redist\adsi\en.
    3. Rerun the Enterprise Guide Systems Requirement Wizard and re-install (SRW should install MDAC 2.7 and Jet40SP6).