Introduction to SAS

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Introduction to SAS
Paul von Hippel Department of Sociology Ohio
State University October 22, 2004
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Topics

• Getting started
• Getting data in
• Manipulating data
• Graphics
• Analysis
• Getting results out
• Reducing repeated code

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I. Getting Started

• Logging in
• Opening SAS
• SAS windows

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Logging in to the SIL

• Turn on computer
• Enter your user name
• If your OSU email is buendia.100_at_osu.edu
• then your SIL user name is buendia.100
• not the same as in SRL
• Enter your password
• your first initial last 4 digits of your SS
  your last initial
• e.g., Jose Arcadio Buendia, SS 100-10-0100
• password j0100b
• again not the same as in SRL

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Opening SAS (in the SIL)

• Lower left corner, click Start
• Choose
• Programs
• Analysis
• SAS V8

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SAS windows

• Choose Window?Tile Horizontally

Type code
Submitted code ERRORs, WARNINGs, benign feedback
See output
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Saving code

• Name the contents of the Editor window
• currently blank
• Select the editor window
• Choose File?Save as
• X\brownbag.sas
• Save regularly

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II. Getting data in

• The DATA step
• - with DATALINES
• - with INFILE
• The IMPORT procedure

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DATA step with DATALINES
Type in Editor window
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(A word on DATA steps)
Basic structure DATA datasetname RUN
Each statement ends with a semicolon INPUT
describes the format character variables
followed by DATALINES introduces the data. /
comments enclosed /
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Submitting code
Highlight and submit code
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Viewing dataThe PRINT procedure
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(A word on PROCEDURES)
Basic structure PROC procedure
DATAdataset RUN Each statement ends
with a semicolon E.g., PROC print
DATAMissAmericas RUN
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DATA step with DATALINES
If you have a lot of lines, typing DATALINES is
inconvenient.
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DATA step with INFILE
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The IMPORT procedure
If there are a lot of variables in different
formats, the INPUT statement can be cumbersome
IMPORT figures out the variable types (numeric,
character, etc.) and takes variable names (Year,
Name, etc.) from the first row.
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Where is the data?

• Data file Missamericas
• Library Work (default)
• Work is a temporary folder on some disk
• erased when you quit SAS

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Making a permanent SAS data set
MYLIB points to X\. You could also say
X\somefolder\ or. MYLIB.missamericas is a
file on X\ If no library were specified, WORK
(temp disk space) would be assumed. Can you find
mylib and missamericas in the SAS Explorer? Can
you find missamericas.sas7bdat on the X drive?
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Retrieving a permanent SAS data set

• Quit SAS and relaunch it
• See? The contents of mylib are permanent.

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III. Manipulating data
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The DATA step with SET
Define some new variables
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IV. Graphics
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PROC GPLOT
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The UNIVARIATE commandwith the HISTOGRAM
statement
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V. Analysis
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The REG procedure
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VI. Getting results out

• The Output window
• The Output Delivery System
• The EXPORT procedure

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Save the output window

• Click in the output window
• Choose File?Save As

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Save selected results with ODS

• Every part of the output has a name
• If you know the name
• you can save that part of the output
• as a data file
• To do this, use the Output Delivery System (ODS)

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Whats the outputs name?
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Saving the output

• int_slope is a data set
• Can you find it?

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Doctoring the output
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The EXPORT procedure

• Results.xls is an Excel file.
• Can you find it?

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VII. Reducing repeated code

• Macros

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Macros

• Often you need to repeat analyses
• with minor adjustments
• Instead of cutting and pasting
• use a macro

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Macros

• Basic structure
• macro choose_a_name (arg1, arg2)
• / SAS code using arg1, arg2 /
• mend

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Macros

• Dont say
• Instead, say

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To learn more

• Online documentation
• wks.uts.ohio-state.edu/sasdoc/8/sashtml/onldoc.htm
  
• very technical
• The Little SAS Book
• in SRL, great introduction reference