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SAS® OnDemand for Academics

Learning to use SAS® OnDemand for Academics Software Applications

The following resources are available to help you learn how to use SAS® OnDemand for Academics software applications:

arrowSAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide

Reference Materials

Working with Data

Working with Results

arrowReference Materials

If any of the supporting materials identified are not inherently accessible and you require an accessible format, please send e-mail to ondemandacademics@sas.com. SAS will work with you to provide an accessible format.

arrowTutorials and E-Learning

Tutorial

If you are new to SAS® Enterprise Guide® or want to learn more about using SAS® Enterprise Guide®, you will find the free Getting Started tutorial helpful. As you complete the topics in this tutorial, you will learn to use the main features of SAS® Enterprise Guide®. To access this online tutorial,

  1. Select Start --> Programs --> SAS --> Enterprise Guide 4 Academics to log on to the SAS Server (the SAS Metadata Repository). The Credentials Required window opens.
  2. Type in the user id e-mailed to you when you registered as a SAS® OnDemand for Academics user. You can also find this value on your SAS® OnDemand for Academics home page. See Accessing Your SAS® OnDemand for Academics Account for more information.
  3. Type in the password associated with your SAS Profile account.
  4. Select OK. The SAS Enterprise Guide window opens.

    You are now logged on to the SAS Server. Note that your user name and connection status appear at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

    To get started, select an option in the Welcome to SAS Enterprise Guide window.

    • Select Tutorial: Getting Started with SAS Enterprise Guide in the Welcome to SAS Enterprise Guide window to open the tutorial window.
    • Select Begin Tutorial to view a list of topics covered by the free tutorial. You should complete these topics in order.

Self-paced e-Learning

In addition to the free Getting Started tutorial, there are several self-paced e-Learning courses available to you for free. To access these courses,

  1. Go to Getting Started with SAS Enterprise Guide.
  2. On the right hand side of the page, log on using your SAS Profile information (your e-mail and password).
  3. In the upper right corner of the page, select the Your Courses button.

    A list of the courses that are available to you appears.

  4. Select the course that you are interested in taking.

As a SAS® OnDemand for Academics user, these e-Learning modules are available to you for free. Disregard any pricing information that may appear for these modules.

Online SAS Enterprise Guide Demonstration

arrowOnline Practice Exercises, Statistics Information, and Sample SAS Data Sets

For instructions about how to perform all of the basic statistics taught in an introductory statistics class, a library of SAS data sets, and a library of practice exercises, visit the SAS Online Resources for Statistics Education Web site.

arrowOnline Documentation for SAS Enterprise Guide

SAS® Enterprise Guide® online documentation is available at the following location: SAS Enterprise Guide 4.1 Documentation

arrowAvailable Publications for SAS Enterprise Guide

Books

A number of books are available for SAS® Enterprise Guide. You can use the SAS Bookstore Web site to find the books, review portions of each book, and even place orders:

  1. Visit the SAS Bookstore Web site.
  2. Use the site's features to search for appropriate books or publications. For example, you might choose to search for Enterprise Guide or Base SAS.

White Papers

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arrowWorking with Data

arrowStoring Data

There are two ways to store data for use with SAS® OnDemand for Academics:

  • If you are an instructor, then you can store data on the SAS Server. After you have stored this data, students can access the data using a LIBNAME or FILENAME statement that you provide for them. For more information, see SAS Server Data Storage.
  • Instructors or students can store the data that they want to use on a data source that can connect to their PC. Sources could include a local file system, university space (such as AFS or NFS space), or even portable disk drives.

arrowUploading Data Files to the SAS Server

If the data that you want to use is not already available from the SAS Server, then you can use the Upload Data Files to Server task available within SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide. This task enables you to select one or more SAS data sets (*.sas7bdat) from your local Microsoft Windows file system and copy them to the SAS Server (the SAS Cloud) for processing. You must perform this step in order to work with any local SAS data sets because the SAS Server cannot access any data on your local drives.

The task generates a log that summarizes the data files that were copied, the byte size, timings for each file and for all of the files as a group, and any errors that occurred during the transfer. By default, all data files are added as output data in your SAS® Enterprise Guide® project so that they can be used in the project.

Since any modifications that you make to the data will not be saved once you end your session, you might want to download any data files that you have changed from the SAS Server to your local PC after you have finished your work. For more information, see Downloading Data Files from the SAS Server.

To upload a data set, you

  1. Select SAS data sets to upload.
  2. Specify the upload options.

To select the SAS data sets to upload, follow these steps:

  1. Select Data --> Upload Data Files to Server... The Upload Data Files to Server window opens.
  2. Select Add to select the SAS data sets that you want to copy. The Open dialog box opens.
  3. Select the name of the file that you want to copy. To select more than one file, hold down the CTRL key while selecting the files that you want to add. Files must be SAS7BDAT files.
  4. Select Open to add the files to the list of data sets that you want to copy. Note that all files that are copied are given lowercase names on the target server.
  5. Select Next to specify the upload options. The Upload Data Files to Server window opens.

    This window specifies the name of the SAS server and the destination SAS library for your project. The SAS Server for SAS® OnDemand for Academics is selected by default, and cannot be changed.

    The WORK library is the destination SAS library by default and should not be changed. The WORK library is specified because it is the only location on the SAS Server that you have the ability to temporarily store data for processing. Note: Selecting any library other than WORK will result in an error.

    To specify the upload options, follow these steps:

    • If you want overwrite any existing files on the SAS server that have the same name as the files that you are copying, select the Overwrite existing files with the same name check box. By default, existing files are not overwritten.
    • If you do not want to add the data sets that you are copying to your current SAS® Enterprise Guide® project, clear the Add data files to your current project check box. By default, the copied data sets are added to the current project.
  6. Select Finish to copy the data sets to the SAS Server.

    A log is created and appears in the SAS® Enterprise Guide® Project Explorer.

arrowDownloading Data Files from the SAS Server

The Download Data Files to PC task (available within SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide) enables you to select one or more SAS data sets (*.sas7bdat) from the SAS Server and copy them to your local Microsoft Windows file system. It is important to complete this step if you have modified any SAS data sets that you want to use again in the future.

The task generates a log that summarizes the data files that were copied, the byte size, timings for each file and for all of the files as a group, and any errors that occurred during the transfer.

To download a data set, you

  1. Select the SAS data sets to download.
  2. Specify the download options.

To select the SAS data sets to download, follow these steps:

  1. Select Data --> Download Data Files to PC.... The Download Data Files to PC window opens.
  2. Select Add to select the SAS data sets that you want to copy. The Open dialog box opens.
  3. Select the name of the file that you want to copy. To select more than one file, hold down the CTRL key while selecting the files that you want to add. Files must be SAS7BDAT files. All files that are copied are given lowercase names in the target folder.
  4. Select Open to add the files to the list of data sets that you want to copy.
  5. Select Next. The Download Data Files to PC window opens.

    To specify the download options, follow these steps:

    • Type the path of the folder to which you want to copy the files or select Browse to select a folder. The default location is your My Documents folder.
    • If you want to overwrite any existing files in your PC folder that have the same name as the files that you are copying, select the Overwrite existing files with the same name check box. By default, existing files are not overwritten.
  6. Select Finish to copy the data sets.

    A log is created and appears in the SAS® Enterprise Guide® Project Explorer.

arrowAccessing Existing Data from the SAS Server

The SAS Server includes some SAS data sets that you might choose to use. To access these SAS data sets, do the following:

  1. Start SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide and log on.
  2. Select File --> Open --> Data.
  3. Select SAS Servers.
  4. Double click on SAS Apps.
  5. Double click on Libraries.
  6. Double click on the appropriate library (such as MAPS or SASHELP).
  7. Double click on the SAS data set that you want to use.

Note: Remember that if you modify a SAS data set that exists on the SAS Server and you want to save that SAS data set, you must download the data set to a local drive. If you do not, your modifications will be lost when you end your session. See Downloading Data Files from the SAS Server for more details.

Additionally, some of the SAS data sets available from the SAS Server might be too large to download locally unless you have modified them to make them smaller. In this case, it is recommended that you work with the original SAS data sets only while connected to the SAS Server.

arrowUploading Data Files to the SAS Server versus Opening SAS Data Sets

If you have access to a local SAS data set, you can choose File --> Open --> Data and select the appropriate SAS data set. However, this is not the preferred method. Instead, SAS recommends that you upload the SAS data set to the SAS Server. This will improve data transfer speed and it will ensure that the step is recorded as part of your project.

See Uploading Data Files from the SAS Server for more details.

arrowWorking with Data Other than SAS Data Sets

If you want to work with data other than SAS data sets (such as comma delimited files or text files), you can import the files in to SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide. To import non SAS data, follow these steps:

  1. Select File --> Import Data.
  2. Select Local Computer.
  3. Find and select the data file that you want to use.

arrowWorking with Compressed SAS Data Sets

SAS does not recommend that you work with compressed SAS Data Sets when using SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide. If you have a compressed SAS Data Set, you can use the COMPRESS=NO option to remove compression.

arrowWorking with LIBNAME and FILENAME Statements

The SAS Server is unable to recognize or access the local drives of your PC. Therefore, if your SAS program includes a LIBNAME or FILENAME statement that refers to a local path (such as a location on your C: drive), then you will receive processing errors.

Instructors have the ability to store SAS data sets and other data files on the SAS Server. If your instructor has taken advantage of this feature, then you will receive either a LIBNAME statement or a FILENAME statement from your instructor that you can use to access the appropriate data.

If you do have local SAS data sets that you want to use, it is recommended that you upload them. You can then refer to the uploaded SAS data sets in your code or in your projects. Additionally, if you modify the SAS data set(s) that you upload and you want to use them again, you should download the SAS data set(s) from the SAS Server prior to exiting SAS® OnDemand for Academics.

arrowSaving Data

SAS® OnDemand for Academics provides instructors with the ability to store data (if they choose to use this feature). This stored data can be used during subsequent sessions. However, if you created or modified a SAS data set that you want to be able to use in future SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide sessions, then you must save that SAS data set locally before ending your session.

To save SAS data sets that you might have used on the SAS Server, see Downloading Data Files from the SAS Server.

arrowSaving Work

SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide is unable to store your work on the SAS Server (the SAS Cloud). Instead, you must save any work (SAS® Enterprise Guide® projects, SAS files, output files, and so on) to a hard disk drive that you can access prior to ending your session.

To save any work within SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide, start by selecting one of the following options:

  • To save a file, choose File --> Save or File --> Save As
  • To save a project, choose File --> Save Project or File --> Save Project As
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arrowWorking with Results

arrowWorking with the PDF Result Format

With SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide, you have the ability to select the type of result format that you want to produce. By default, the result format is set to HTML.

If you choose to use the PDF result format, then certain graphics will appear distorted unless you also change the default graph format to GIF or JPEG.

Complete the following steps if you want to use the PDF result format and ensure that graphs render appropriately:

  1. Open SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise Guide.
  2. Select Tools --> Options.
  3. From the left side of the screen, select Results General from the tree.
  4. Select PDF.
  5. From the left side of the screen, select Graph from the tree.
  6. From the Graph Format drop down menu, select GIF or JPEG.

arrowResult Formats and Associated Graph Formats

The default graph format is ActiveX, which typically provides the best results for HTML and SAS Report result formats. If you need to use a result format such as PDF, which does not support interactive graphics types, you will also need to change the graph format to a static device type such as GIF or JPEG. The following table references result formats and the graph formats that each supports:

Result Format Supported Graph Format(s)
HTML ActiveX, Java, GIF, JPEG, SAS EMF
SAS Report ActiveX, GIF, JPEG
PDF GIF, JPEG, SAS EMF
RTF ActiveX, GIF, JPEG, SAS EMF
Text (Listing) None
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arrowSAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM (Beta)

Reference Materials

Working with Projects

arrowReference Materials

SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM is based on SAS® Enterprise MinerTM 5.3. Select SAS® Enterprise MinerTM 5.3 materials to review when possible.

arrowDocumentation

To access product documentation, sample data, and more, refer to the SAS® Enterprise MinerTM support site.

arrowAvailable Publications for SAS Enterprise Miner

A number of books are available for SAS® Enterprise MinerTM. You can use the SAS Bookstore Web site to find the books, review portions of each book, and even place orders:

  1. Visit the SAS Bookstore Web site.
  2. Use the site's features to search for appropriate books or publications. For example, you might choose to search for Enterprise Miner or data mining.

SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM is based on SAS® Enterprise MinerTM version 5.3. Therefore, we recommend the following book: Getting Started with SAS Enterprise Miner 5.3.

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arrow Working with Projects

arrow Using Project Start-Up Code

SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM enables you to include start-up code when you create a new project. This code will be run any time that the project is started and can save you time and effort. For example, you might want to assign a LIBNAME statement through start-up code so that a project always points to the same data when it is opened.

To use project start-up code:

  1. Start SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM.
  2. Select Create Project.
  3. Select the Start-Up Code tab.
  4. Enter the appropriate Start-Up Code.
  5. Use the other tabs as needed to finish creating your new project.

arrowWorking with SAS Libraries

If you would like to work with a specific SAS Library when using SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM, then you can:

  • assign the library using project start-up code. For more information, see Using Project Start-Up Code.
  • use the Program Editor Window to assign a LIBNAME statement. You can access the Program Editor by selecting View --> Program Editor.

Note: A number of SAS Libraries are available by default on the SAS Server. You can access the SAS data sets in these libraries when you create a data source in SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM.

arrow Differences between Project Model Packages and Exported Project Diagrams

With SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM, a user can create and register a model package (also known as a SAS Package File or .spk file), create a model package without registering it, or export a diagram as an XML file (.xml). By creating and registering a model package, a user can make their project available to others (such as an instructor) without having to send any physical file(s). Registered model packages contain results as well as information about diagram(s). If a specific project takes a long time to run, then having the model package (with the associated results) can be advantageous.

If a user chooses not to register a model package, then they can still save the model package and share the model package file with others (through e-mail or a shared network directory). The shared model package will display results only; it will not include access to any diagram files associated with the project. If the user wants to rerun any portion of the project, they will have to access and import any appropriate diagrams.

Exported diagrams contain no results. After a project's diagram has been exported as an XML file, it can be shared as an attachment in an e-mail message or by placing the file on a shared network directory. To use the shared file, it must be imported in to SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM and then the appropriate path(s) of the diagram would have to be run to produce results.

Note that neither model packages nor exported diagrams include the actual data that is referenced. To rerun the project, you must have access to the original data or have the LIBNAME that points to the original data if that data is stored on the SAS Server.

arrow Submitting Homework Assignments

With SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM, students can create and submit an entire project model package, share a non-registered model package, or export a project diagram and share the exported file. For more information, see Differences between Project Model Packages and Exported Project Diagrams.

Ultimately, the choice is up to the instructor. The decision might be made based on whether or not the instructor needs access to project results and/or diagram files.

To submit a registered project model package to an instructor:

  1. Create a project or open an existing project within SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM.
  2. Highlight the appropriate node within a diagram.
  3. Select Actions --> Create Model Package.
  4. In the Input dialog box, enter a name for the model package.

    To ensure that you choose a unique file name, you might want to include your name or initials as part of the file name. This will ensure that an instructor can distinguish one submitted model package from another.

  5. From the Project Panel on the left side of SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM, expand the Model Packages folder.
  6. Right click on the appropriate model and then click Register.
  7. From the Project Panel on the left side of SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM, expand the Model Packages folder again.
  8. Right click on the appropriate model and then click Save As. You will be prompted to save the model as a SAS Package File (.spk) in a location where your instructor can access it.

To submit a non-registered project model package to an instructor:

  1. Create a project or open an existing project within SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM.
  2. Highlight the appropriate node within a diagram.
  3. Select Actions --> Create Model Package.
  4. In the Input dialog box, enter a name for the model package.

    To ensure that you choose a unique file name, you might want to include your name or initials as part of the file name. This will ensure that an instructor can distinguish one submitted model package from another.

  5. From the Project Panel on the left side of SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM, expand the Model Packages folder.
  6. Right click on the appropriate model and then click Save As. You will be prompted to save the model as a SAS Package File (.spk).
  7. Share the appropriate .spk file with your instructor (through e-mail or through a shared network directory).

To submit an exported project diagram to an instructor:

  1. Create a project or open an existing project within SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM. Ensure that your project includes a diagram.
  2. From the Project Panel on the left side of SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM, expand the Diagrams folder.
  3. Right click on the appropriate diagram and then select Save As. Save the diagram as a .xml file.

    To ensure that you choose a unique file name, you might want to include your name or initials as part of the file name. This will ensure that an instructor can distinguish one submitted diagram from another.

  4. Share the .xml file with your instructor (through e-mail or through a shared network directory).

arrow Accessing Submitted Homework Assignments

After students have submitted homework assignments, instructors can access them. The access method is dependent on how the homework was submitted.

To access a registered project model package from a student:

  1. Start SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM.
  2. Select File --> Open Model Package.
  3. Select the appropriate model package from your student(s). Any model packages that a student has registered should be available.

To use a project model package file that a student has shared:

  1. Open SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM.
  2. Create a new project or open an existing project.
  3. Select File --> Open Model Package.
  4. Navigate to the location where the student's model package has been saved and select it.

Note: You will be unable to make any changes or rerun the diagram nodes. However, you can choose Action -> Recreate Diagram to recreate a diagram within the current project. Once a diagram is recreated, you will have a working copy of the diagram, just as if you imported the appropriate diagram.xml. You must run a diagram path to produce any results.

To use a project diagram file that a student has shared:

  1. Open SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM.
  2. Create a new project or open an existing project.
  3. Select File --> Import Diagram from XML.
  4. Import the diagram XML file from the student.

arrow Collaborating

Students can collaborate with each other while using SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM in one of two ways:

  • by saving an entire project as a model package and then sharing the model package
  • by exporting project diagrams as XML files and then sharing those files with each other.

The choice might be determined by whether or not the students need to share the results of a project. Exported diagrams do not contain results while model packages do.

Note that neither model packages nor exported diagrams include the actual data that is referenced. To rerun the project, you must have access to the original data or have the LIBNAME that points to the original data if that data is stored on the SAS Server.

To share a project model package:

  1. Create a project or open an existing project within SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM.
  2. Highlight the appropriate node within a diagram.
  3. Select Actions --> Create Model Package.
  4. In the Input dialog box, enter a name for the model package.

    To ensure that you choose a unique file name, you might want to include your name or initials as part of the file name. This will ensure that your peers can distinguish one model package from another.

  5. From the Project Panel on the left side of SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM, expand the Model Packages folder.
  6. Right click on the appropriate model package and then select Save As. Save the model package as an .spk file.
  7. Share the .spk file as needed (through e-mail or through a shared network directory).

Note: The user who receives the model package can start SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM and choose File -> Open Model Package to open the package and view the diagram and results. The user will be unable to make any changes or rerun the diagram nodes. However, the user can choose Action -> Recreate Diagram to recreate the diagram within the current project. Once the diagram is recreated, the user will have a working copy of the diagram, just as if they imported the appropriate diagram.xml. The user must run a diagram path to produce any results.

To share a project diagram:

  1. Create a project or open an existing project within SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM. Ensure that your project includes a diagram.
  2. From the Project Panel on the left side of SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM, expand the Diagrams folder.
  3. Right click on the appropriate diagram and then select Save As. Save the diagram as a .xml file.

    To ensure that you choose a unique file name, you might want to include your name or initials as part of the file name. This will ensure that your peers can distinguish one diagram from another.

  4. Share the .xml file as needed (through e-mail or through a shared network directory).

To use a shared project diagram:

  1. Start SAS® OnDemand for Academics: Enterprise MinerTM.
  2. Create a new project or open an existing project.
  3. Select File --> Import Diagram from XML.
  4. Import the appropriate diagram XML file.
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arrowSAS® OnDemand for Academics: JMP

arrowFrequently Asked Questions

For general information about using SAS® OnDemand for Academics: JMP, see JMP Frequently Asked Questions.

arrow Educational Resources

Online Help is available from the main menu of SAS® OnDemand for Academics: JMP. It contains a wealth of resources, including a full documentation set, and other tools to help you get started using the software. Examples of other tools include:

  • Tip of the Day. Read one tip a day when you launch SAS® OnDemand for Academics: JMP or choose to scroll through the tips in one sitting. You may also select Help --> Tip of the Day from the menu bar at any time to access the tips.
  • Tutorials. From the menu bar, select Help --> Tutorials.
  • Sample Data Directory. This directory provides access to 300 data tables and more than 200 scripts that launch analyses and create graphs. From the menu bar, select Help --> Sample Data Directory and run the script found under the red triangle to get started with basic analyses.
  • JMP Menu Card and Quick Reference Card. From the menu bar, select Help --> Books --> JMP Menu Card or Help --> Books --> JMP Quick Reference Card.

arrow Working with Red and Blue Triangles

When you perform analyses with SAS® OnDemand for Academics: JMP, you might see red and/or blue triangles. Red triangles are hot spots that reveal menus when clicked with a mouse. Blue triangles are disclosure icons that expand when clicked with a mouse.

arrow Working with SAS Data

Chapter 11 of the online JMP User Guide is dedicated to SAS integration and working with SAS data. To access this information, select Help --> Books --> JMP User Guide from within SAS® OnDemand for Academics: JMP.

Note: Some features, such as the ability to select a SAS server other than the SAS® OnDemand for Academics Server, are disabled in SAS® OnDemand for Academics: JMP.

For more information about working with SAS® OnDemand for Academics: JMP, SAS, and data, see Storing Data.

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