Glossary: Glossary :: Getting Started with SAS/ASSIST(R) 9.1

Glossary

active table: in SAS/ASSIST software, a SAS table that has been specified for a particular task.
analysis variable: a numeric variable that is used to calculate statistics. An analysis variable usually contains quantitative or continuous values, but this is not required.
arithmetic operator: in SAS software, any of the symbols (+, -, /, *, and **) that are used to perform addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and exponentiation in SAS expressions.
base SAS software: software that includes a programming language that manages your data, procedures for data analysis and reporting, procedures for managing SAS files, a macro facility, help menus, and a windowing environment for text editing and file management.
batch mode: a method of executing SAS programs in which a file that contains SAS statements plus any necessary operating environment commands is submitted to the computer's batch queue. After you submit the program, control returns to your terminal or workstation, where you can perform other tasks. Batch mode is sometimes referred to as running in the background. The program output can be written to files or printed on an output device.
button: a component of a graphical user interface. A button is usually in the form of a rectangle or square that contains a label. The button is programmed to execute a command, to open a window, or to perform some other function when a user selects it. For example, many graphical user interfaces include buttons that have labels such as OK, Cancel, and Help.
BY variable: a variable named in a BY statement whose values define groups of observations to process.
character variable: a variable whose values can consist of alphabetic and special characters as well as numeric characters.
chart variable: the variable whose values you are charting.
check box: an item in a window that you can select without affecting any other items. You can deactivate a check box by selecting it again.
class variable: a variable that is used to group, or classify, data. Class variables can be either character or numeric. Class variables can have continuous values, but they typically have a few discrete values that define the classifications of the variable.
column: in relational databases, a vertical component of a table. Each column has a unique name, contains data of a specific type, and has certain attributes. A column is analogous to a variable in SAS terminology.
crosstabulation table: a frequency table that shows combined frequency distributions or other descriptive statistics for two or more variables. These tables are also referred to as two-, three-, or n - way tables; contingency tables; and stub-and-banner tables. See also frequency table.
cumulative frequency: the total number of observations in all ranges up to and including a given range.
cumulative percent: the percentage of observations in all ranges up to and including a given range.
DATA step: a group of statements in a SAS program that begins with a DATA statement and ends with either a RUN statement, another DATA statement, a PROC statement, or the end of the job. The DATA step enables you to read raw data or other SAS data sets and to create SAS data sets.
data value: a unit of character or numeric information in a SAS data set. A data value represents one variable in an observation.
dependent column: See response variable.
dialog box: a type of window that opens to prompt you for additional information or to ask you to confirm a request.
engine: a component of SAS software that reads from or writes to a file. Each engine enables SAS to access files that are in a particular format.
explanatory variable: a variable that is included in a regression model in order to explain the variation in the dependent (or response) variable. Explanatory variables, which are also called independent, input, predictor, or regressor variables, can be deterministic or probabilistic.
external file: a file that is created and maintained by a host operating system or by another vendor's software application. SAS can read data from and route output to external files. External files can contain raw data, SAS programming statements, procedure output, or output that was created by the PUT statement. An external file is not a SAS data set. See also fileref.
fileref: a name that is temporarily assigned to an external file or to an aggregate storage location such as a directory or folder. The fileref identifies the file or the storage location to SAS. In SAS/ASSIST software, you assign a fileref with the Setup task.
format: a pattern or set of instructions that SAS uses to determine how the values of a variable (or column) should be written or displayed. SAS provides a set of standard formats and also enables you to define your own formats.
frequency chart: a graphic illustration of the number of times a value or range of values for a given variable occurs.
frequency count: the number of times a value or range of values for a given variable occurs.
frequency table: a table that lists the values of a variable and the number of observations with each value. See also crosstabulation table, frequency count.
function key: a keyboard key that can be defined to have a specific action in a specific software environment.
independent column: See explanatory variable.
index: in SAS software, a component of a SAS data set that enables SAS to access observations in the SAS data set quickly and efficiently. The purpose of SAS indexes is to optimize WHERE-clause processing and to facilitate BY-group processing.
informat: a pattern or set of instructions that SAS uses to determine how data values in an input file should be interpreted. SAS provides a set of standard informats and also enables you to define your own informats.
interactive line mode: a method of running SAS programs in which you enter one line of a SAS program at a time at the SAS session prompt. SAS processes each line immediately after you press the ENTER or RETURN key. Procedure output and informative messages are returned directly to your display device.
label, variable: a descriptive label of up to 40 characters that can be printed in the output by certain procedures instead of, or in addition to, the variable name.
length, variable: the number of bytes used to store each of a variable's values in a SAS data set.
libref: a name that is temporarily associated with a SAS data library. The complete name of a SAS file consists of two words, separated by a period. The libref, which is the first word, indicates the library. The second word is the name of the specific SAS file. For example, in VLIB.NEWBDAY, the libref VLIB tells SAS which library contains the file NEWBDAY. You assign a libref with a LIBNAME statement or with an operating system command.
local session: a SAS session running on the local host. The local session accepts SAS statements and passes those that are remote-submitted to the remote host for processing. The local session manages the output and messages from both the local session and the remote session.
logical operator: an operator used in expressions to link sequences of comparisons. The logical operators are AND, OR, and NOT.
menu bar: the primary list of items at the top of a window which represent the actions or classes of actions that can be executed. Selecting an item executes an action, opens a pull-down menu, or opens a dialog box that requests additional information. See also pop-up menu, pull-down menu.
message area: the area immediately beneath a window's command line or menu bar which displays messages from SAS.
metadata: a description or definition of data or information.
midpoint: a value that represents one data value or the middle of a range of data values. When a midpoint represents a range of values, the algorithm used to calculate it depends on the procedure.
missing value: in SAS, a term that describes the contents of a variable that contains no data for a particular row or observation. By default, SAS prints or displays a missing numeric value as a single period, and it prints or displays a missing character value as a blank space.
numeric variable: a variable that contains only numeric values and related symbols, such as decimal points, plus signs, and minus signs.
observation: a row in a SAS data set. All of the data values in an observation are associated with a single entity such as a customer or a state. Each observation contains one data value for each variable.
permanent SAS data set: a data set that remains after the current program or interactive SAS session terminates. Permanent SAS data sets are available for future SAS sessions.
pop-up menu: a menu that appears when it is requested. These menus are context- specific, depending on which window is active and on the cursor location. See also pull-down menu.
PROC SQL view: a SAS data set (of type VIEW) that is created by the SQL procedure. A PROC SQL view contains no data. Instead, it stores information that enables it to read data values from other files, which can include SAS data files, SAS/ACCESS views, DATA step views, or other PROC SQL views. A PROC SQL view's output can be either a subset or a superset of one or more files. See also view.
pull-down menu: the list of menu items or choices that appears when you choose an item from a menu bar or from another menu. See also pop-up menu.
raw data: data that has not been read into a SAS data set.
remote session: a SAS session running in a special mode on the remote host. No output or log messages are displayed on the remote host; instead, the results of a remote SAS session are transmitted back to the log and output files on the local host.
response variable: in regression analysis, the variable that you are interested in modeling for the purpose of seeing how it changes as a function of the factors. The response variable is also referred to as the dependent variable.
row: in relational database management systems, the horizontal component of a table. It is analogous to a SAS observation.
SAS catalog: a SAS file that stores many different kinds of information in smaller units called catalog entries. A single SAS catalog can contain several different types of catalog entries. See also SAS catalog entry.
SAS catalog entry: a separate storage unit within a SAS catalog. Each entry has an entry type that identifies its purpose to SAS. Some catalog entries contain system information such as key definitions. Other catalog entries contain application information such as window definitions, Help windows, formats, informats, macros, or graphics output.
SAS data file: a SAS data set that contains data values as well as descriptor information that is associated with the data. The descriptor information includes information such as the data types and lengths of the variables, as well as which engine was used to create the data. SAS data files are of member type DATA. See also SAS data set, SAS data view.
SAS data library: a collection of one or more SAS files that are recognized by SAS and which are referenced and stored as a unit. Each file is a member of the library.
SAS data set: a file whose contents are in one of the native SAS file formats. There are two types of SAS data sets: SAS data files and SAS data views. SAS data files contain data values in addition to descriptor information that is associated with the data. SAS data views contain only the descriptor information plus other information that is required for retrieving data values from other SAS data sets or from files whose contents are in other software vendors' file formats.
SAS data view: a type of SAS data set that retrieves data values from other files. A SAS data view contains only descriptor information such as the data types and lengths of the variables (columns), plus other information that is required for retrieving data values from other SAS data sets or from files that are stored in other software vendors' file formats. SAS data views can be created by the SAS DATA step and by the SAS SQL procedure.
SAS log: a file that contains a record of the SAS statements that you enter as well as messages about the execution of your program.
SAS name: a name whose construction follows certain rules and that can appear in a SAS statement (for example, names of variables and SAS data sets).
SAS procedure: a program that produces reports, manages files, or analyzes data and which is accessed with a PROC statement. Many procedures are included in SAS software.
SAS program: a group of SAS statements that guide SAS through a process or series of processes.
SAS statement: a string of SAS keywords, SAS names, and special characters and operators that instructs SAS to perform an operation or that gives information to SAS. Each SAS statement ends with a semicolon.
SAS Support Consultant: an individual at your computing installation who is designated as a support person for SAS software users at the installation. The consultant can help you with questions about using SAS software.
SAS table: another term for SAS data set. See SAS data set.
SAS windowing environment: an interactive windowing interface to SAS software. In this environment you can issue commands by typing them on the command line, by pressing function keys, or by selecting items from menus or menu bars. Within one session, you can perform many different tasks, including preparing and submitting programs, viewing and printing results, and debugging and resubmitting programs.
Sasuser library: a default, permanent SAS data library that is created at the beginning of your first SAS session. The Sasuser library contains a Profile catalog that stores the customized features or settings that you specify for SAS. You can also store other SAS files in this library.
scroll bar: a graphical window element that is used to bring the undisplayed contents of an associated object (such as a text box or a list box) into view. A scroll bar is shaped like a horizontal or vertical bar and has a scroll arrow at each end. If the associated object contains text that is not in view, the scroll bar contains a box that you can drag in order to move up or down in the viewing area. Alternatively, you can click on the arrows to move up or down in smaller increments.
selection field: the portion of a window (shown on the display as an underscore) where you can enter a short command to perform an action, such as B for browse.
selection-field command: a command that enables you to perform actions from a selection field in a SAS windowing environment. For example, entering D in the selection field beside the name of a SAS data set in the DIRECTORY window enables you to delete that SAS data set.
SQL (Structured Query Language): a standardized, high-level query language that is used in relational database management systems to create and manipulate database management system objects. SAS implements SQL through the SQL procedure.
table: in general, a two-dimensional system of representing data in rows and columns.
temporary SAS data set: a data set that exists only for the duration of the current program or interactive SAS session. Temporary SAS data sets are not available for future SAS sessions.
variable: a column in a SAS data set or in a SAS data view. The data values for each variable describe a single characteristic for all observations.
view: a generic term (used by many software vendors) for a definition of a virtual data set (or table). The definition is named and stored for later use. A view contains no data; it merely describes or defines data that is stored elsewhere.
WHERE expression: a type of SAS expression that specifies a condition for selecting observations for processing by a DATA step or a PROC step. WHERE expressions can contain special operators that are not available in other SAS expressions. WHERE expressions can appear in a WHERE statement, a WHERE= data set option, a WHERE clause, or a WHERE command.
WHERE processing: a method of conditionally selecting observations for processing in a DATA or PROC step. WHERE processing involves using a WHERE expression in a WHERE statement, a WHERE= data set option, a WHERE clause, or a WHERE command. See also WHERE expression.
Work data library: a SAS data library that is automatically defined by SAS at the beginning of each SAS session or SAS job. The Work library contains SAS files that are temporary by default. When the libref User is not defined, SAS uses Work as the default library for SAS files that are created with one-level names.

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